Scirrotto apologizes, gets fine, probation; major charges dismissed
By Pete Bosak
- pbosak@centredaily.comBELLEFONTE — Penn State starting safety Anthony Scirrotto apologized Thursday and accepted “full responsibility” for his actions that police said led to a downtown State College apartment invastion and assault involving nearly two dozen Nittany Lion football players.
Scirrotto agreed to a plea bargain with the Centre County District Attorney’s Office and pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor count of defiant trespass for his role in the April 1 melee at the Meridian II apartment bulding.
He was sentenced by Centre County Judge Bradley P. Lunsford to serve one year on probation and pay a $500 fine.
As part of the deal, Scirrotto saw a felony count of criminal trespass and a summary dismissed.
As his mother cried behind behind him and his father, a New Jersey police officer, watched, Scirrotto stood before Lunsford and apologized for his actions and promised never to run afoul of the law again. The soon-to-be senior from West Deptford, N.J., also acknoleged the embarassment the incident brought not only to his family, but to Penn State and its football program.
“And for that I am truly sorry,” Scirrotto said.
Scirrotto was the accused ringleader of about two dozen Penn State football players who rushed into the Meridian II and pushed their way inside an apartment in the early morning hours of April 1. Police said they were seeking revenge on two men who punched Scirrotto and shoved his girlfriend in an altercation on the street about 45 minutes before the Meridian II assaults.
Scirrotto did not retaliate then, but instead followed the men back to a party at the Meridian II and, when he could not get inside, made a phone call that resulted in about two dozen players showing up, according to court documents.
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