We felt very, very strongly and we still do that case has no more merit than the cases that have already been dismissed. I believe this case will be dismissed fairly soon, so it was disappointing to see charges brought. – Attorney Greg Skordas, Hatfield's attorney

SALT LAKE CITY — Former Utah cornerback Dominique Hatfield is facing a new misdemeanor assault charge a little more than two weeks after robbery and theft charges were dropped in a separate case.

Prosecutors charged Hatfield, 20, with assault, a class B misdemeanor, on Monday in connection with an incident that occurred at a party on July 5.

According to a probable cause statement, the alleged victim said Hatfield and "other unknown individuals" grabbed him and attacked him, causing multiple cuts to his face and nose, as well as bruising around his eyes, shoulder and back after the victim asked Hatfield not to consume marijuana at the party.

Hatfield's attorney, Greg Skordas, who also represented Hatfield in the previous case, said he was "disappointed" that charges were filed Monday in relation to the July 5 case.

"We knew that allegation was being looked into," Skordas said. "It's been nearly a month. We felt very, very strongly — and we still do — that case has no more merit than the cases that have already been dismissed. I believe this case will be dismissed fairly soon, so it was disappointing to see charges brought."

Hatfield was charged with aggravated robbery and theft on July 2, but those charges were dropped on July 16. Skordas said officials in the district attorney's office told him charges would not be brought up again in the first case. He added that he heard from the Unified Police Department that the original case had been closed.

Following the charges brought up in the first case, Hatfield was suspended indefinitely on July 6. He was later dismissed from the program on July 10. During the Pac-12 Media Days last week, Utah coach Kyle Whittingham said Hatfield was still dismissed from the program.

"He’s got some other issues he’s working through — unrelated to those charges," Whittingham said Friday.

Whittingham added, however, there still is a possibility Hatfield could return to the team.

View Comments

“I guess you never say never, so I guess there is a possibility, but we’ll just have to see how things unfold," he said.

Utah senior associate athletics director Liz Abel, who spoke with Whittingham on Monday, issued the following statement: "Dominque Hatfield's dismissal from our team remains in effect, and certain conditions would still need to be met for him to be considered for reinstatement in the future."

Skordas said he's still hopeful that Hatfield, once projected as one of Utah's starting cornerbacks, will return to the gridiron in the future.

"We're trying to get him reinstated as a student before he gets reinstated as a student-athlete," Skordas said. "I think the kid still has a very promising career in football, and I hope it's here in Utah."

Looking for comments?
Find comments in their new home! Click the buttons at the top or within the article to view them — or use the button below for quick access.