Pretrials set for State hockey players

Adams, Kozakowski face multiple charges; Mason refuses to comment on incident

EAST LANSING - East Lansing 54-B court records indicate that pretrial hearings have been set for two Michigan State hockey players, stemming from a September assault of an Michigan State student.

Jeff Kozakowski, a defenseman for the Michigan State hockey team, was arraigned on March 5, and had his pretrial hearing set for March 18. The communication senior is facing three misdemeanor charges in relation to the September incident.

Kozakowski is being charged with assault and battery, illegal entry and malicious destruction of property. After entering a not guilty plea, Kozakowski was released on a $250 personal recognizance bond.

The bond states he may not have direct or indirect contact with Phillip Addy, the alleged victim in the incident. Addy is a general business administration junior.

Bryan Adams, a fisheries and wildlife senior on the hockey team, also had misdemeanor warrants levied by the Ingham County Prosecutor's Office in relation to the incident. He is being charged with illegal entry and malicious destruction of property.

His pretrial hearing has been set for March 31. A plea of not guilty was entered by Adams' attorney, and an arraignment was waived by the court.

The State News reported in its March 5 edition that Kozakowski missed his March 4 arraignment deadline. But, the East Lansing Police Department requested an extension on March 5.

The arraignment deadline was extended to coincide with a letter sent to Kozakowski notifying him of a warrant issued for his arrest. The Ingham County Prosecutor's Office issued the warrant Feb. 22, prompting East Lansing 54-B District Court records to list a March 4 arraignment deadline.

But the warrant sent to Kozakowski by police had an arraignment deadline of March 8, prompting the extension.

The warrants stem from a Sept. 18 incident, when officers responded to a 911 call at 3:26 a.m. Upon arriving at a private residence on M.A.C. Avenue, the officer saw 12 to 15 individuals fleeing the scene. Inside the home, the officer found an Michigan State student who had been assaulted and thrown through a coffee table.

Prosecutors believe Kozakowski and Adams were reacting to the assault of Brad Hodgins, a defenseman on the hockey team who was allegedly beaten earlier in the night.

Michigan State head hockey coach Ron Mason said he dealt with the incident, but would not comment further.

"I don't think that's for public knowledge," Mason said. "It was a meeting between me and the players."

The Spartans, who are ranked No. 2 in the country, are 28-4-7 overall this season, with a 20-3-7 record in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association.

In the CCHA playoffs, the Spartans defeated Lake Superior State in a best-of-three series last week, and will face Northern Michigan Friday.

Adams

Kozakowski

MARGARET MYERS/Daily Jeff Kozakowski, a senior defenseman for Michigan State, faces three misdemeanor charges of assault for a September assault of a Michigan State student.

03-17-99