BGSU football junior wide receiver Brennan Ridley was found guilty of disorderly conduct, a minor misdemeanor, at Bowling Green Municipal Court Friday morning after pleading no contest to the charge stemming from a bar fight at Ziggy’s in November.
By pleading no contest to the charge, Ridley did not admit guilt but did not dispute the facts of the charge, while agreeing to the punishment.
Ridley’s originally faced a first-degree misdemeanor assault charge before facing the lowered charge, which the victim was in consent with. The lowered charge is the same one that senior fullback Leone “Leo” Kemp pleaded guilty to on Monday. Like Kemp, Ridley was ordered to pay $150 plus court fees, avoiding a possible $1,000 fine and a maximum of 180 days in jail.
Ridley’s attorney, Sheldon Wittenberg, noted to judge Alyssa Blackburn that he had no prior criminal history. He also explained that Ridley was treated differently by BGSU than the other players charged, as the university found he did not start the original fight on Nov. 2 but rather came to the defense of his teammates.
Wittenburg also revealed that Ridley has not taken anger management courses but has a conflict resolutions course scheduled.
Ridley, who is from Richmond, Virginia, was joined by his parents in the courtroom, who flew in to attend the hearing.
The only player who has not had their case settled from the incident is freshman wide receiver Caleb Goodloe. He is scheduled to appear in court for a pretrial hearing on March. 16.
