Deputies, State Attorney to discuss football fight findings

TAVARES - Lake County deputy sheriffs plan to huddle with prosecutors this week to discuss the sheriff's criminal investigation of the Nov. 7 on-field brawl between varsity football teams of Groveland South Lake and Brooksville Nature Coast Technical high schools.

Sgt. Dan Conlee, a former homicide investigator who supervises the school resource officers assigned to the probe, said the State Attorney's Office will decide how to proceed against the four players who have been named in criminal complaints. Three played for Nature Coast, one for South Lake.

The teams squared off in a shrouded melee when an electrical fuse blew and the lights went out on South Lake's field with 3:45 remaining in the game and undefeated Nature Coast leading, 40-24. Game officials declared Nature Coast the winner but filed a report with the Florida High School Athletic Association that accused Nature Coast Head Coach Jamie Joyner of "throwing punches."

Conlee said no criminal complaint has been filed against Joyner, who disputed the game official's account.

Both the South Lake Eagles and Nature Coast Sharks were fined by the FHSAA, forced to forfeit their season finale and placed on probation, a penalty that forbids them from playing a spring game. The FHSAA also forbid the Hernando County school from participating in the 3A state playoffs.

Conlee said the players, whom he did not identify by name or jersey number, could face simple battery charges.

Deputies used their subpeona power to obtain player information from the Hernando County school.

-- Stephen Hudak

OF THE SENTINEL STAFF

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