‘Forcible touching’: Jordan De Goey stood down after nightclub grope charge
AFL superstar Jordan De Goey has been stood down by Collingwood after being released on bail in New York. He has been charged over allegedly groping a woman in a nightclub.
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Collingwood superstar Jordan De Goey has been stood down by the club within hours of being released from jail in the US, after he was arrested and accused of groping a woman in a New York nightclub.
The midfielder stared straight ahead when peppered with media questions as he walked to a waiting car. Another man with him said “no comment” as De Goey was asked what had happened, how he had been treated in jail, whether he had talked to the football club and what did he want to say to his fans at the Collingwood Football Club.
De Goey was wearing a face mask pulled down over his nose – a move that attracted a flurry of criticism on Twitter, with one person tweeting “Can’t even wear a face mask properly. Child.”
Collingwood stood bad boy De Goey down after he pleaded not guilty to charges of forcible touching and assault after an altercation in a New York nightclub.
De Goey was released, to appear again on December 8 late on Saturday night New York time in the latest disastrous turn in his AFL career.
Even if De Goey accepted up to six years of probation for the forcible touching charge – which carries a maximum penalty of one year in jail – it would be categorised as a sex crime.
The simple assault charge also carries a one-year maximum jail sentence – or a three-year probation period – but a more serious assault charge could lead to a significantly longer jail term.
The Magpies are keen to speak to De Goey in coming hours, with the Pies free agent unable to call them while in custody and only just released on Sunday afternoon Melbourne time.
But the Pies would have grounds to stand down De Goey until his charges are heard, which could be some months if he pleads not guilty.
The AFL and Collingwood could judge that De Goey has brought the game into disrepute or the Pies could consider whether he has breached the terms of his contract as they stand him down until a court resolution.
The Pies would likely defer any decision on whether they have grounds to terminate De Goey’s contract until a full resolution of his legal issues.
De Goey appeared in a dressing gown – his Halloween costume – in a Manhattan court and must check in once per week as part of his bail conditions before appearing again on December 8.
Collingwood’s senior players are due back at pre-season on December 6. De Goey had plans to fly in via Sydney when he left for California for a fitness camp.
Justin Quill, a partner at major law firm Thomson Geer, said US authorities would look extremely dimly on any assault charges.
“The US justice system is renowned as being particularly severe in its sentencing,” he told the Herald Sun.
“So he will no doubt be very nervous. Mindful that he will have pre-season training starting soon, that might factor into the decision-making about whether or not he pleads guilty. If he pleads guilty the case will be over far quicker. The severity of any sentence aside, he will find it very difficult to get back into the United States.”
De Goey and Dyson were partying at the PHD Rooftop Lounge at the Dream Hotel in Chelsea at 2.20am when the pair approached a woman on the dancefloor.
It is alleged the pair groped the woman, with a 37-year-old person linked to the female offended at the nature of their conduct.
When the 37-year-old attempted to push De Goey away, his friend Dyson is alleged to have struck him in the face with a glass bottle, splitting his lip.
Police allege De Goey and Dyson were then involved in a physical exchange with the man before returning to the bar.
The woman called emergency line 911 and the pair were taken into custody and charged with forcible touching and assault.
The New York City Police Department (NYPD) told ABC News Australia all parties involved in the incident were intoxicated and didn’t previously know each other, adding the victims refused medical attention.
In an NYPD statement, cited by The Age, police alleged De Goey “grabbed buttocks and vagina outside clothing without permission or authority to do so of a 35-year-old female”. He was also charged with assault, having allegedly “punched with a closed fist and kicked a 37-year-old male causing pain and swelling”.
The Australian men posted clips on Instagram of them partying in bath robes in a nightclub that appeared to be hosting a wild Halloween party.
The men can be seen dancing and Dyson was drinking straight from a bottle, with their robes open to show off their tattoos. Their earlier posts show them driving through glitzy New York at night.
Police said they were staying at the Dream Hotel with the rooftop bar where the alleged offence took place.
The Dream Hotel confirmed they had been hosting a Halloween party. A manager today gave a “no comment” to News Corp when asked about the police arrests.
Collingwood issued a statement on Sunday morning which made clear the club had not yet spoken to De Goey about the nature of the incident.
“Collingwood is aware of a report involving Jordan De Goey. The club is attempting to contact Jordan, who is in the USA, to determine the facts of the matter. The club will not be in a position to comment further until it has done so,” he said.
Regardless of whether the charges are upheld the Pies will be furious that under new coach Craig McRae’s watch they were not immediately notified of De Goey’s incident after he spent the night in New York lockup.
The AFL said it had been made aware of the incident by Collingwood, with its integrity team to pursue the matter.
The league has a detailed respect and responsibility code that has been updated to work towards safe and inclusive environments for women across the AFL industry.
“The AFL has been contacted by the Collingwood Football Club and made aware of a report involving player Jordan De Goey, who is currently overseas,” the league said.
In 2018 the AFL Integrity Unit and Victoria Police investigated De Goey for an indecent assault from 2015 when he was 19 years old. He was then charged with one count of indecent assault and was to appear in court last year before the charge was withdrawn and he was paid costs; he had maintained his innocence throughout that time.
He then had a series of unrelated traffic offences.
The Collingwood star is looming as the AFL’s hottest free agent next in 2022 as he prepares to sign the biggest contract of his career. He finished last season averaging 29 disposals from his last nine games.
According to Fox News, De Goey had been undergoing an intense training block in California in recent days after he was granted clearance to fly overseas.
Video of his partnering with renowned US fitness trainer Johnny Louch and his intense training at the W Training facility had been going viral.
Originally published as ‘Forcible touching’: Jordan De Goey stood down after nightclub grope charge
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