Charges filed in alleged assault against university student

Charges have been filed in a December assault of a Southeast Missouri State University student.

Brett Andrew Jones, 18, of St. Clair, Mo., was charged Monday with first-degree burglary and third-degree assault in connection with the Dec. 13 incident.

"The investigation took so long because a lot of the people involved had left town due to Christmas break," said Cpl. Adam Glueck, Cape Girardeau Police Department spokesman.

Jones is a freshman running back on the Southeast football team and is still listed on the team's roster on the university's athletics website. He was a walk-on to the team and didn't play during the 2009 season.

"We are very disappointed," said Jeff Honza, sports information director. "Brett will be immediately withheld from individual and group team activities until we have had a chance to review all available facts in the case."

According to the warrant for Jones' arrest, Jones entered the home at 1325 Dunklin St. and assaulted Blake Andrew Carlton. Carlton's injuries included a black eye and a blow to the head.

Bond for Jones is set at $25,000.

Carlton, a St. Louis native, said Tuesday he's always been understanding of the circumstances of the delayed investigation but is glad that something is finally being done.

"I'm all healed up now, I'm fine," said Carlton, a junior international business major. "I'm just trying to get back into the swing of things."

Carlton's family told the Southeast Missourian in December that Carlton was sleeping about 4:30 a.m. Dec. 13 on the couch in a friend's home on Dunklin Street when he was awakened as he was being flipped off the couch onto a coffee table. Carlton, 21, said four men held down his arms and legs while other attackers beat him into unconsciousness. Carlton told police when he regained consciousness he was in the bathroom and had thrown up blood.

Carlton was found by the residents of the home when they returned from breakfast. The residents reported seeing a crowd of men on the lawn and stayed away from the home out of fear until the men outside and the attackers who came inside had left.

During an interview with Detective Keith Green on Dec. 15, Jones said he was with a number of others at a residence on Dunklin Street playing video games the night before Carlton's assault. Upon leaving the home, Jones said several people from 1325 Dunklin St. approached his vehicle and starting yelling at him and his passengers. One of the individuals, Jones told the detective, opened his driver's door, grabbed and hit him and tried to pull him out of the vehicle.

Jones told Green he didn't return to Dunklin Street that morning.

Police had a second suspect, but the Cape Girardeau County prosecutor's office declined to file charges on the person.

ehevern@semissourian.com

388-3635

Pertinent address:

1325 Dunklin St., Cape Girardeau, MO