TRAVERSE CITY — A soccer referee was arraigned in 86th District Court Thursday on a misdemeanor charge of shoving a teenager at a soccer game.
Randall S. Smith, 64, pleaded not guilty to the assault-and-battery charge that alleges he pushed a 16-year-old teen over a bench at a soccer game Oct. 14. A pretrial conference in this case is set for 9:30 a.m. on Dec. 4.
Shawn Worden, Smith’s attorney, waived a formal reading of the charges at his virtual arraignment.
Smith posted an interim bond of $100 and Worden asked Magistrate Tammi Rodger to consider keeping the bond as-is with the additional conditions that Smith not act in a violent, threatening, intimidating, harassing manner toward anyone, that he be respectful of court staff and care providers, and maintains a no-contact provision with the teenager in this case.
Rodgers said that specifically means no contact directly or indirectly, “that means no phone calls, no messages through other people, no social media contact.”
Gaylord Athletic Director Dale Cowper said the individual involved was a student manager, not a player or coach.
Law enforcement officers said they believe it was Smith who was shown in videos shoving the student manager at the Division 2 district boys soccer game between Traverse City St. Francis and Gaylord at Championship Field at the Keystone Soccer Complex in Traverse City.
The initial investigation indicated that Smith was running along the sidelines officiating the game, when he tripped over the teen who was standing in front of the bench, a Michigan State Police press release said.
Smith then raised his flag indicating a penalty, grabbed the teen by the shirt and pushed him over the bench, according to the police.
Smith was suspended by the Michigan High School Athletic Association after the incident.
If convicted on the charge, the maximum penalty is 93 days in jail, but the decision on sentencing rests with a judge.