UW-Madison freshman wide receiver Ernest Mason pleaded guilty to four of six counts Monday, following arrests in December and April involving incidents with the same woman.
Mason pled guilty to charges of battery, bail jumping and intimidation of victim and dissuasion of reporting.
Though Steve Malchow, assistant athletic director of communications, would not say how Mason's pleas will affect his status on the team, he said the athletic policy allows for the athletic department's Appeals Committee to reconsider former decisions concerning suspension reversals.
\The committee can always go back and revisit the situation if there's more information that they think makes them want to revisit it,"" Malchow said.
The athletic department would not disclose whether he appealed his second suspension, but if he did appeal, he did not win.
Currently, Mason is still suspended as the result of his April arrest.
According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Mason was referred to the Deferred Prosecution Program. Officials from the program will draw up a contract and, if Mason abides by the terms, his record will be cleared.
UW-Madison law professor Donald Downs said Mason made the plea ""to get a better deal for his claim,"" adding it was a rational move.
""I think there must be some pretty good evidence of the more serious stuff,"" Downs said.
Police arrested Mason last December after he assaulted a woman and prohibited her from calling police, according to the criminal complaint. He faced charges of disorderly conduct, intimidation of a victim and dissuasion of reporting.
Because of the new athletic conduct code implemented this academic year, Mason was immediately suspended from the team. He met with the athletic department's Appeals Committee, who reversed his suspension, which lasted two days.
In April, police again arrested Mason after he attacked the same woman, according to the criminal complaint. He was charged with disorderly conduct, intimidation of a victim and dissuasion of reporting, battery and bail jumping.
