City files charges against Burgess
Linebacker confronted parking attendant on two occasions, spokesman says
The Los Angeles city attorney has filed misdemeanor charges against UCLA linebacker Xavier Burgess, city attorney spokesman Frank Mateljan said Thursday afternoon.
Burgess, who was arrested Monday night after allegedly threatening a UCLA parking enforcement officer outside Sproul Hall, faces two counts of criminal threats, one count of battery, and two counts of disturbing the peace. If convicted, the 19-year-old freshman could serve a maximum of three years in prison.
“We fully intend to proceed with the charges,” Mateljan said. “We believe they represent a full account of what took place.”
Mateljan said the charges stem from two separate incidents – not one, as previous reports indicated.
On Oct. 23 Burgess allegedly engaged in an argument with a male parking enforcement officer, who apparently informed him that his 1988 Acura Integra was parked illegally in the Sproul turnaround. Burgess allegedly confronted the same officer again four days later. Mateljan said the second altercation involved “some physical contact.”
Burgess was taken into custody and spent Monday and Tuesday nights in a West Hollywood jail before being released late Wednesday afternoon.
His arraignment is scheduled for Nov. 17 at the LAX municipal courthouse.
UCLA coach Karl Dorrell said he will not determine any penalties for Burgess until he looks into the situation more closely.
“There were charges filed but it’s nothing I’m willing to comment on until I go through our facts and do our own investigation,” Dorrell said. “We’ll determine any disciplinary action at a later time.”
Sophomores John Sciarra and Marcus Cassel each received one-game suspensions after separate arrests earlier this season.
A highly touted recruit out of Sacramento’s Grant Union High School, Burgess redshirted last season, and has not seen much playing time in 2003. He has played mainly on special teams this season, and has yet to register a tackle.
Dorrell said Wednesday that Burgess, who has been slowed by a hip injury, will not travel to Palo Alto for Saturday’s game against Stanford.
Attempts to reach Burgess by phone were unsuccessful.


