Backup Punter Guilty of Assault but Not Attempted Murder
GREELEY, Colo. – A jury convicted former college football player Mitch Cozad of second-degree assault on Aug. 9 for stabbing his teammate Rafael Mendoza last September but cleared him of attempted first-degree murder.
Cozad played backup punter for Northern Colorado last fall. When the starter Rafael Mendoza was stabbed outside his apartment on Sep. 11, Cozad was brought to trial for the crime. The attack left Mendoza with a deep gash in his kicking leg, but he was able to return to the team.
The prosecution claimed that Cozad stabbed Mendoza in an attempt to get the starting position. The defense argued that another student injured Mendoza, who testified that he could not see his attacker.
Cozad will receive his sentence on Oct. 2. For second-degree assault he could face up to 16 years in prison.
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