Professional hacky sack player from Ann Arbor pleads guilty to sexual assault charge
An Ann Arbor man with a dozen world championship hacky sack titles pleaded guilty to a sexual assault charge.
Gregory Nelson, 42, pleaded guilty to an added count of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct at a recent pre-trial hearing, court records show. The original four counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct will be dismissed at sentencing on Aug. 26. He was scheduled to go to trial in the fall.
Nelson is a 12-time World Doubles Champion in hacky sack and a professional Frisbee player who worked as an independent contractor for Flying Aces in Sharon Township.
Authorities charged him in April after investigating allegations made by a young woman who came forward to a friend, police said. The offenses date back to January 1996, records show.
A sentencing agreement with Circuit Judge David Swartz is in place, but further details were unavailable.
Fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct is a misdemeanor punishable by up to two years in prison. Second-degree criminal sexual conduct is a felony punishable by up to 15 years in prison.
Nelson remains free on a personal bond pending sentencing.
Comments
Milton Shift
Tue, Jul 20, 2010 : 9:22 p.m.
A guilty plea does not actually mean someone is guilty except for purposes of sentencing and avoiding trial. As previously mentioned, defendants often take guilty pleas despite innocence to either avoid a long and nasty trial, or to try to get a lighter sentence when the case looks like it's going to end badly.
ann arbor kathy
Tue, Jul 20, 2010 : 1:10 p.m.
I know Greg, and he is neither weird nor creepy. He is an excellent father. I suspect that he pled guilty to save his family a lot of pain.
Mick52
Tue, Jul 20, 2010 : 1:01 p.m.
Scooter is probably correct. If this man has no priors a single 4th degree conviction will likely not result in incarceration unless its part of the plea agreement. Very common practice, gets the case off the docket and easier on the bad guy. I would bet his atty asked for a charge of assault, to keep him from having to register as a sex offender. In re to "innocent before proven guilty," its too commonly used inappropriately. Its a standard intended for court only. The jury is to consider the defendant innocent at the start of the trial and to not falter unless the evidence sways them otherwise. Otherwise its not appropriate to spout it. We very commonly consider many "guilty until you can weasel out of your charge." It really does not apply outside court. You do need probable cause before you cuff em, but no worry about their innocence. That's why we can arrest, and lodge before trial violent offenders and those who are flight risks. If we had to consider them "innocent before" we would have to let them go and do more violence until proven guilty. The trial is a constitutional guarantee that allows you to have proof you all your rights and privileges were provided to you upon arrest, charge and subsequent sentencing. Guilty people remain guilty even when they are acquitted. Acquittal does not mean you didn't do it, that you are innocent, it means the proof simply was lacking or you bought the jury in some manner. Dave66 has a good point. Facing damning evidence a guilty person might plead to get off with a lesser charge that will keep him free. But it doesn't happen that often. There should be a law barring such pleas, if you didn't do it you can't plead guilty, because if you do, you have to perjure yourself, and that's a crime. But no, the prisons are not full of innocent people. Those innocents in prison, if there are any, are probably there because of witness statements rather than police work. Would like to see some real data on how many innocent people plead guilty. Its really not that easy to convict an offender. The system is weighted way more in favor of the accused.
Dave66
Tue, Jul 20, 2010 : 6:06 a.m.
Once again, people are going to jump up and down on his head because he plead guilty. Has everyone the memory of a goldfish? Nobody remembers the teenager who plead guilty to sexual assault for sex with his girlfriend, only to find out later that due to a clerical error, he plead guilty to a much more serious crime by accident? Just because he plead guilty doesn't mean he's guilty. It means he made a calculated decision about how to best end this chapter of his life. People plead guilty to lesser charges every day when they never committed the original crime, because they're afraid of being convicted of something more serious. Don't forget that innocent people get convicted all the time, just as guilty people go free. Pleading guilty has absolutely nothing to do with guilt or innocence. It's got more to do with roulette than it does with justice.
John Galt
Mon, Jul 19, 2010 : 1:44 p.m.
The future of American employment....hacky sack player! LOL!
Pizza Man
Mon, Jul 19, 2010 : 12:48 p.m.
Where are all the people that accused the Ann Arbor News of giving this guy a bad rap? They were just reporting the story. Come to find out, he plead guilty. So what do you all have to say for yourselves now? You all questioned why the young women took so long to come forward. She was a family friend and felt she couldn't come forward until now. I am sure he will get a slap on the wrist. I know this guy from seeing him do work in my neighborhood. He always seemed a little weird and creepy to me, but creepy and weird is not against the law! With sex offenders there is no such thing as doing it one time. It has happened once and it will happen again.
I_love_ann_arbor
Mon, Jul 19, 2010 : 11:23 a.m.
Youtube had thousands of videos on hacky sack and frisbee. This guy is a neighbor of my mothers. I think that he accepted the lowest amount of time possible.
b master b
Mon, Jul 19, 2010 : 10:19 a.m.
Would it be fair to say he thinks with his sack?
John of Saline
Mon, Jul 19, 2010 : 10:08 a.m.
1. I had no idea there were professional hacky sack and frisbee players, I guess kids really can be whatever they want when they grow up Me neither, though I suspect his pay was not exactly enough to live on (maybe enough for an occasional extra pizza).
Jay Allen
Mon, Jul 19, 2010 : 9:23 a.m.
I wish to address a few of you, but first this is what gets me: "Nelson remains free on a personal bond pending sentencing." Really? Being "accused" of a sexual crime is very serious. Now he PLEADED guilty which means they had him on second degree and to avoid trial, BOTH sides conceded. Personal Bond on being GUILTY of sexual assault? genericreg, did you not READ the article? There is no assumption of innocence here. The "hackey sack player" pleaded GUILTY. Your comments are unjustified. scooterdog's perception is accurate. The state should NOT have accepted a plea. Now he'll get 1.0 - 1.5 years and probation. Yes keepingitreal his life outside of prison will be compromised, but ask yourself, please: Would YOU take 15 years outside of prison with whatever limitations on your freedom vs 15 years in prison? With this "hackey sack player" being released on personal bond after pleading GUILTY to sexual assault is definitely a sign that he'll get off way to easy. Pardon the pun.
genericreg
Mon, Jul 19, 2010 : 9:08 a.m.
Including ann arbor.com everyone forgets innocent until proven guilty.
scooter dog
Mon, Jul 19, 2010 : 8:24 a.m.
2 yrs is chump change compared to the 15 on each count he needs to get.
KeepingItReal
Mon, Jul 19, 2010 : 8:18 a.m.
scotter dog: It is highly unlikely this gentleman will get a "NO NOTHING SLAP ON THE WRIST SENTENCE." Sexual assault convictions in this state is a serious matter and his life will we miserable for years to come.
obviouscomment
Mon, Jul 19, 2010 : 8:14 a.m.
1. I had no idea there were professional hacky sack and frisbee players, I guess kids really can be whatever they want when they grow up 2. That's not all I got out of this article and I don't want anyone to be offended...I'm just saying...I had no idea. It's a shame I have to prelude my comments with this though.
scooter dog
Mon, Jul 19, 2010 : 8:06 a.m.
Get ready folks.From what I am reading here we are going to see another NO NOTHING SLAP ON THE WRIST SENTENCE,and the judicial circus keeps on rolling in washtenaw county