McCall receives 45-day sentence

COLFAX – Washington State running back Kevin McCall was sentenced to 45 days in jail in Whitman County Superior Court on Monday after pleading guilty to fourth-degree assault with sexual motivation last week.

Originally charged with third-degree rape, a trial was avoided when McCall agreed to plead guilty to the misdemeanor. At a sentencing hearing Monday morning that lasted just less than an hour, Judge David Frazier admonished McCall and ridiculed an argument made by the defense that he was a “little 19-year-old kid” who was “not wise in the ways of the world.”

“That portrayal doesn’t jibe with the facts I’ve seen,” Frazier said in explaining his decision. “Just considering what you have admitted here … you need to see the inside of a jail.”

McCall has 44 days left to serve since he spent a day in jail after his arrest in March. That sentence could be reduced to one month based on good behavior. McCall will also spend two years on probation and has agreed to a permanent restraining order plus monetary compensation for the victim’s counseling.

Chief Deputy Prosecutor Carol LaVerne and the victim’s aunt, Tuere Sala, described the stress the incident had caused the victim and requested a nine-month jail term, while defense attorney Tim Esser argued that McCall had already paid a high enough price and needed no further punishment.

McCall himself spoke to the court for about 45 seconds after both his parents spoke on his behalf.

“The bottom line is that I got myself into this situation and it’s my fault,” the rising sophomore told the court. McCall had a clean record before the misdemeanor assault. “The whole situation makes me sick to my stomach. I’ve learned from it. And I’m ready to move on.”

WSU head coach Bill Doba was out of town fund-raising Monday and has not publicly stated what his decision is on any possible disciplinary action. McCall has been suspended from all team activities since the arrest in March, a ban that included all of spring football.