The Ohio State University assistant professor who tackled a local filmmaker in February has pleaded no contest to a reduced charge of disorderly conduct.
Luke M. Perez shoved independent journalist Michael Newman to the ground the evening of Feb. 9. Newman and local political blogger DJ Byrnes – who authors a newsletter called "The Rooster" – stuck around after a class Perez co-taught through the Salmon P. Chase Center for Civics, Culture, and Society to ask guest lecturer and former Ohio State President E. Gordon Gee questions. Newman tried to follow Gee into a classroom, at which point Perez blocked his path, smacked his hand, causing his phone to fall, grabbed his shoulder and knocked him down, according to an affidavit.
Perez was placed on paid administrative leave Feb. 10 pending a university police department investigation and charged with one count of assault in Franklin County Municipal Court on Feb. 16. Ohio State spokesperson Chris Booker confirmed Perez remains on leave but declined to comment on whether the university investigation remains ongoing.
After Perez initially pleaded not guilty to the assault charge at an arraignment on Feb. 23, the case was set for a jury trial on July 20. Instead, Perez pleaded no contest to an amended charge of disorderly conduct. Judge Jodi Thomas subsequently found him guilty of the reduced charge, court records show.
Under Ohio law, a no-contest plea is not an admission of guilt but is an admission of the truth of the facts alleged in the complaint for purposes of the case, according to Ohio Revised Code Section 2937.07.
Perez was sentenced to a 30-day suspended jail term, meaning he's not required to serve it immediately, plus two years of probation and a $100 fine. Altogether, Perez owed $924 in court fees, which records indicate have been paid.
The court also issued a no-contact order against Perez tied to the university, though it's unclear from court records what conduct is prohibited and with whom.
Court records show Perez's attorney filed notice in June that he intended to pursue a self-defense argument if the case proceeded to trial.
Subpoenas had already been issued for several witnesses, including individuals identified as Newman, Byrnes, Gee, Christopher R. Green – who co-taught "Profile in American Leadership" with Perez and witnessed the incident with Newman shortly after the class had ended – and Chase Center leaders and staff, according to court records.
Stephen E. Palmer is listed as Perez's primary attorney in court records. His Columbus-based firm, Palmer Legal Defense, did not respond to The Dispatch's request for comment.
In May, a panel of three professors and members of the University Sanctioning Committee recommended Perez be terminated, dubbing his actions as "the most egregious incident of workplace violence" they'd investigated, according to a document obtained by the Dispatch.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: OSU professor avoids assault trial with plea in viral campus incident