8/21/07 - Five Charges Against Penn State Safety Dropped

A Centre County judge has dismissed five of seven charges against Penn State starting safety Anthony Scirrotto stemming from an April off-campus fight. Judge Charles Brown Jr. ruled there was no evidence that Scirrotto was responsible for starting the fight. Scirrotto still faces a felony count of criminal trespassing and one count of harassment. Authorities said Scirrotto and several friends or acquaintances, including football players, went to an apartment party about 45 minutes after the safety and his girlfriend got into an argument on a street April 1 with two other students, who were not players. A melee ensued at the party, police said. Some of the victims were punched, one was hit in the head with a beer bottle and knocked unconscious, and another was punched and kicked in the face, authorities said. Lawyers for Scirrotto and the other players involved have said that their clients would be eligible for PSU's season opener September 1st against Florida International.