IONIA, MICHIGAN - A man who attacked Atlanta Falcons rookie running back T.J. Duckett and taunted him with racial slurs has been sentenced to three months of boot camp and two years probation.
At his sentencing hearing Monday in Ionia County Circuit Court, Robert James Pung, 21, of Saranac, also was ordered to pay about $500 in fines and court costs.
On Sept. 3, he pleaded no contest to charges of ethnic intimidation, a felony, and misdemeanor assault and battery.
The attack happened July 23 after a Nelly concert at the Greater Ionia Fair.
Ionia County Prosecutor Gail Benda said Pung, who is white, singled out Duckett, a 260-pound former Michigan State University football star, because he is black.
Two other white men allegedly were involved in the attack, one of whom was charged. Defending himself, Duckett beat Pung into submission, then Pung's alleged accomplices dragged him into nearby woods, The Grand Rapids Press reported Tuesday.
Harold Jason Bodman, 23, of Ionia, is accused of smashing a bottle in Duckett's face, breaking one of the athlete's teeth.
Bodman was charged with ethnic intimidation and felonious assault. If convicted, he could face four years in prison on the assault charge plus two years on the intimidation count.
His trial was pending.
Monday
May 19th, 2025
12:30AM
