Booker Stanley, a 22-year-old UW-Madison junior and backup tailback for the football team, did not make an appearance in the Badgers' Capital One Bowl victory Jan. 2 due to charges stemming from a Dec. 21 incident in which he allegedly battered and strangled a 20-year-old woman.
According to a police statement, Stanley was charged with second-degree recklessly endangering safety, two counts of battery, false imprisonment, intimidation of a victim and two counts of bail jumping. He was released on $500 bail.
The charges are not the first for Stanley, who already faces charges of battery, disorderly conduct and resisting an officer for his role in a street fight April 30 during the Mifflin Street Block Party.
The Capital Times reported that Stanley had reached a plea bargain in which he would plead guilty and would then be sent to the First Offender's Program, but that deal is now under review because of the latest incident. Stanley's court date for past incidents was cancelled due to this most-recent arrest.
Charles W. Giesen, a Madison-area attorney representing Stanley, was not available for comment at press time.
According to the police report, officers responded to a call at 3:30 a.m. from a neighbor: 'An uninvolved person not in Stanley's apartment heard the disturbance and references to being strangled and called the police,' the statement said.
Stanley allegedly pushed and choked the 20-year-old woman on a stairwell in the apartment, according to the Capital Times. According to the article, she managed to grab her cell phone and tried to call 911, but Stanley grabbed the phone and threw it. He then allegedly prevented her from leaving the apartment.
The two bail jumping charges are due to additional allegations that Stanley violated his bond by calling the same woman after he had been released from custody. His bond stated he was to have no contact with the woman. In addition, his April bond included the condition that he stayed out of trouble with the law.
Stanley rushed 69 times for 340 yards and three touchdowns this season. He also caught seven passes for 64 yards.
Director of Athletic Communication Justin Doherty declined to comment on the new charges, saying only that Stanley remains suspended but will continue to be a member of the team. Stanley can appeal his suspension, but Doherty would not say whether he has filed anything with the school.
Stanley is ordered to appear in court Jan. 30 to await a ruling.
