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PULLMAN, Wash. — A former high school football standout from Salt Lake City is in trouble with law enforcement.
Former Cottonwood High defensive end T.J. Fehoko, 19, will be recommended for charges of second-degree assault after a fight involving several students at Washington State University, the Pullman Police Department announced Friday.
Fehoko, who was under investigation with WSU teammate Robert Barber, 22, was found to have punched a student in the head, then “knocked him to the ground where he was then struck by unknown students,” Pullman police chief Gary Jenkins told the Seattle Times.
The student suffered a broken jaw during the incident.
Barber is accused of punching another student in the head and hitting him again on the ground in a fight where the other student sustained a concussion.
Both student-athletes surrendered to Pullman police on Friday morning, when they were arrested, booked and released. The Whitman County prosecuting attorney will determine what criminal charges will be filed next week.
Because the charges have not been filed, Washington State athletic director Bill Moos will leave internal punishment to football coach Mike Leach in advance of Saturday’s game against Idaho.
"The status is with coach Leach," Moos said during a Friday afternoon press conference. "Both players, their case is before the prosecutor and I think we would wait till after that part of the process is finished. Right now it's up to coach Leach."
The 6-foot-2 Fehoko was a three-star defensive end at Cottonwood, where he graduated in 2015. He compiled 121 tackles and 21 sacks as a senior for the Colts (5-6), the third-most sacks in the nation according to MaxPreps.com.
