A frustrated judge came close to issuing a bench warrant Tuesday for a former youth soccer coach when the Richmond man, who is charged with attacking referee Bruece Greenlee (RPCV Peru) in November, did not show up in court



A frustrated judge came close to issuing a bench warrant Tuesday for a former youth soccer coach when the Richmond man, who is charged with attacking referee Bruece Greenlee (RPCV Peru) in November, did not show up in court

Accused soccer coach not in court, judge irritated

OAKLAND - A frustrated judge came close to issuing a bench warrant Tuesday for a former youth soccer coach when the Richmond man, who is charged with attacking a referee in November, did not show up in court.

Alameda County Superior Court Judge Carol Brosnahan was clearly irritated when she learned that the defendant in the case, 34-year-old Mauricio Alvarez, was not in her Oakland courtroom and had not yet formally retained the attorney who was appearing for him.

At Alvarez's last court date two weeks ago, Brosnahan had ordered him to hire a lawyer and be present Tuesday.

"(Alvarez) needs to fish or cut bait - I told him that last time," Brosnahan told attorney Laura Robinson, who said she will meet with Alvarez for the first time Friday and would likely take his case. Robinson further explained to the judge that she had told Alvarez that he didn't need to be in court after consulting with a court clerk on Monday.

Brosnahan agreed to hold the $10,000 bench warrant and ordered that Alvarez come to court on June 16. If he fails to show up on that date, the judge could issue the warrant for his arrest.

Alvarez is charged with two counts of misdemeanor battery for an incident in which he is accused of punching and kicking referee Bruce Greenlee on an Albany soccer field on Nov. 20 in a dispute over player credentials. Alvarez, who has pleaded not guilty, claims that someone else was responsible.

The trial has been postponed several times since Alvarez parted ways with his attorney in April.

When this story was posted in June 2005, this was on the front page of PCOL:



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June 6: PC suspends Uzbekistan program Peace Corps has announced that it is suspending the Uzbekistan program after the visas of 52 Peace Corps volunteers who arrived in January were not renewed. The suspension comes after a State Department warning that terrorist groups may be planning attacks in Uzbekistan and after the killings in Andizhan earlier in May. Background: PCOL published a report on April 23 that Peace Corps volunteers who arrived in January were having visa difficulties and reported on safety and visa issues in Uzbekistan as they developed.

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June 5, 2005: Special Events Vote in the NPCA Election for new board before June 15 "American Taboo" author Phil Weiss in Maryland on June 18 "Rainforests and Refugees" showing in Portland, Maine until June 25 "Iowa in Ghana" on exhibit in Waterloo through June 30 RPCV's "Taking the Early Bus" at Cal State until Aug 15 RPCVs: Post your stories or press releases here for inclusion next week.

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May 28, 2005: This Week's Top Stories The Coyne Column: Love and War in Afghanistan 28 May Sam Farr supports Coffee Growers in Colombia 28 May Elaine Chao wins Woman of Valor award 27 May Nebraska has strong ties with Afghanistan 27 May Arthur Orr to seek Alabama State Senate seat 26 May Murder of John Auffrey remembered in Liberia 26 May Bill Moyers says journalists should be filters for readers 26 May Linda Seyler spent two years in Thailand digging latrines 25 May Chris Shays blasts Bush on stem cell research 25 May George Wolfe to head Loudoun Academy of Science 25 May David Rudenstine heads Cardozo School of Law 24 May Mark Schneider says declaration is "pretty thin gruel" 24 May Robert Blackwill supports seat for India on Security Council 24 May Chris Matthews weighs Thomas Jefferson nomination 24 May Jim Knopf is expert on xeriscape gardening 23 May Mae Jemison receives honorary degree at Wilson 23 May Kenneth Proudfoot says dreams come true 22 May

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