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Ex-football star sentenced for assaulting Wyoming High School student

Rueben Riley, the former dean of students at Wyoming High School, pleaded no contest to assault and battery for the way he removed a disruptive 15-year-old student from class in January.

 

The former dean of students at Wyoming High School pleaded no contest to assault and battery for the way he removed a disruptive 15-year-old student from class in January.

Rueben Joseph Riley entered the no contest plea in Wyoming District Court three days before his non-jury trial was to get underway on the misdemeanor charge.

More: Reaction to dismissal of Reuben Riley

Related: Wyoming Public Schools dean accused of assaulting student, fired

Wyoming District Judge Steven Timmers on Monday placed Riley on probation for six months and ordered that he pay $935 in fines and court costs.

The court allowed Riley to plead no contest rather than guilty due to possible civil litigation

Under terms of the sentence, the slate will be wiped clean if Riley finishes his probationary period without and missteps.

The former NFL and University of Michigan football player and assistant Wyoming football coach was hired by Wyoming schools in Aug. 2013.

He was accused of assaulting a student Jan. 26 when the disruptive teen refused to leave class. The student was taken to a local hospital where he was treated and released.

A video of the incident shows Riley escorting the student through the gym to the office when the situation escalated. Riley told administrators he “took him down’’ and put the student on the floor.

School officials determined the incident was more physical than it should have been and fired Riley.

Supporters of Riley, 31, attended a Wyoming School Board meeting in early February and told board members the district acted too quickly in dismissing the popular coach and educator.

The former lineman at Creston High School was signed by the Carolina Panthers as an undrafted free agent in 2007. He also played for the Washington Redskins, New York Giants and Miami Dolphins.

Riley retired from the Hartford Colonials of the United Football League following a 2010 knee injury.

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