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School cries foul on Oregon prosecutor

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Posted 8:18AM on Wednesday 30th January 2002 ( 23 years ago )
MEDFORD, OREGON - A high school basketball player who head-butted another player is being forced to skip the next game between the teams, and the lawyer for the assailant&#39;s school district is crying foul. <br> <br> Medford School District attorney Tim Gerking said the agreement to force the player to skip the game was negotiated by Klamath County District Attorney Ed Caleb, whose son plays on the team of the head-butting victim. <br> <br> Gerking says he might file an ethics complaint against Caleb, who he believes used his office to keep North Medford High&#39;s starting point guard out of Friday&#39;s important game against Klamath Union. <br> <br> Zachary Taylor, 17, was issued a misdemeanor assault citation Jan. 18 because of the head-butting incident during a game between the teams on Jan. 4. He was called for a personal foul, but was not otherwise penalized. The player who absorbed the head-butt was not injured. <br> <br> Caleb began a criminal investigation after the game and negotiated an agreement with Taylor&#39;s family on Tuesday to dismiss the citation if Taylor gets his temper evaluated and skips Friday&#39;s rematch. Taylor&#39;s parents accepted Caleb&#39;s offer, but support their son&#39;s claim that the head-butt was accidental. <br> <br> Gerking said the district is considering filing an ethics complaint with the Oregon State Bar or the state Government Standards and Practices Commission. <br> <br> Caleb called Gerking&#39;s comments ``hollow threats&#39;&#39; that might lead to a complaint in the other direction. <br> <br> Gerking ``just wants to shoot his mouth off because he doesn&#39;t know what he&#39;s talking about,&#39;&#39; Caleb said. ``Maybe I&#39;ll be the one who contacts the Oregon State Bar.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> Caleb said he wanted Taylor out of Friday&#39;s game to keep him away from the victim. He also said he and several law-enforcement officials reviewed a videotape of the incident and agreed it was a crime. <br> <br> ``I was at the game, so it didn&#39;t take a whole lot of investigation,&#39;&#39; Caleb said. ``It&#39;s there, on tape.&#39;&#39;

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