An ex-Rutgers football player admitted in court he broke a man's jaw after a confrontation in New Brunswick.
NEW BRUNSWICK -- An ex-Rutgers University football player pleaded guilty Friday to charges in two separate indictments, one stemming from a fight on Delafield Street in April 2015 that also involved several other players.
Ruhann Peele, pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct for throwing a punch during a fight authorities have said was over a parking space on Delafield Street. The victim, a Rutgers student, ended up with a broken jaw.
Peele admitted to Superior Court Judge Dennis Nieves Friday morning that he threw a punch during that fight, but he did not throw the punch that injured the victim.
Peele was originally charged with a fourth degree crime of riot, but the charge was downgraded to a petty disorderly persons offense.
He was also facing second degree aggravated assault charges for allegedly punching another man in October near Easton Avenue and Mine Street, near the campus. He was indicted in April on that charge.
As part of Friday's guilty plea, Peele agreed to plead guilty to third degree aggravated assault in the second incident.
Under questioning by his attorney, Joseph Benedict, Peele said he was leaving a store in New Brunswick when he was confronted by two men. He said he tried to get away and threw a punch at one of the men, Kevin Finnegan.
The punch broke Finnegan's jaw, nose and ruptured his ear drum, according to Middlesex County Assistant Prosecutor Deborah Hay.
Peele acknowledged under questioning by the judge that his actions did not constitute self defense.
He said it was his understanding that at sentencing, the prosecutor's office will recommend "probation" instead of prison.
Peele will be sentenced Sept. 30, 2016.
Another former player, Jamil Pollard, was arraigned on charges he and ex-player, Lloyd Terry, conspired to rob another student, Dylan Mastriana at the Davidson Dorms of cash a marijuana on Dec. 10, 2014.
Nieves is overseeing all of the cases involving the ex-Rutgers students, including the football players. The eight cases include home invasions, armed robberies, weapons, assaults and drug possession and distribution charges brought last year by the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office. The scandal brought down the school's football coach and athletic director.
Sue Epstein may be reached at sepstein@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @susan_epstein. Find NJ.com on Facebook.