LSU Potential Recruit Darius Mcclinton-Hunter, Aressted on Sexual Assault

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McClinton-Hunter has attracted considerable football recruiting interest from several schools, including Arkansas, LSU, Oklahoma, Oregon, SMU, Texas A&M and Texas Tech, to play wide receiver.


ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Los Angeles Angels right fielder Torii Hunter was not in the team's lineup for Monday's game against the Oakland A's after his teenage son was one of five Dallas-area high school students arrested in Texas earlier in the day.

The team said Hunter was at Angel Stadium earlier Monday but flew back to Texas before the game. He has been placed on the restricted list for personal reasons.


Hunter
Darius McClinton-Hunter, 17, was one of two adults arrested after a monthlong investigation of sexual assault of a child, a second-degree felony. Three juveniles were also arrested. Prosper police also said more charges could be filed.

McClinton-Hunter was released Monday evening on $15,000 bond.

Prosper police spokesman Celso Martinez confirmed McClinton-Hunter is Torii Hunter's son. Hunter's family lives in Prosper, a suburb north of Dallas that's home to several prominent athletes including Deion Sanders and Hunter's teammate, reliever LaTroy Hawkins.

"They're devastated. Everybody's very upset," his attorney, Todd Shapiro, told reporters at the courthouse. "He's got a very bright future ... still does. He's a very good student, a very good athlete."

The investigation into the alleged crime was reported about a month ago with arrests coming Monday.

Hunter tweeted shortly after 5 p.m. PT Monday: "This is very tough for a father. Thanks for ur prayers and support. Be Blessed everyone!"

The Angels said they have no information about when Hunter might return to the team. He was off Sunday night in Texas, not because of anything related to his son, but because he's been in a 2-for-30 slump.

"The context is Torii has a personal matter to take care of. We're certainly willing and able to allow him to take all the time he needs to do that," Angels general manager Jerry Dipoto said.

The team recalled reserve outfielder Ryan Langerhans from Triple-A Salt Lake on Monday. Mark Trumbo started Monday night's game in right field and likely will get the bulk of the playing time there until Hunter returns.

"It's a personal issue. We'll go day to day with it and just see where it is," manager Mike Scioscia said."That's all I'm going to say."

As Angels players were getting dressed for Monday's game, initial reports about the arrest began to appear on the clubhouse TVs. Hunter, in the final year of a five-year deal, is among the most popular players on the team.

"He's a parent. Baseball comes second, family comes first," said Angels reliever LaTroy Hawkins. "He's got to take care of something at home. That's it."

McClinton-Hunter has attracted considerable football recruiting interest from several schools, including Arkansas, LSU, Oklahoma, Oregon, SMU, Texas A&M and Texas Tech, to play wide receiver.

Hunter said in December that his son would prefer to go to Oregon. McClinton-Hunter has scholarship offers from SMU and Texas Tech.