Former University of Arizona coach Craig Carter, who has been accused of stalking and assaulting an athlete, has been ordered to stay away from the fields where he once led training.
Pima County Superior Court Judge Teresa Godoy this morning told Carter, who was in court, to stay away from the UA athletic fields at 501 S. Plumer Ave. She also warned him against making any attempt to contact the victim.
Prosecutor Ellen Brown told the court that UA coaches say Carter, 47, has been driving by the athletic fields and "yelling things." She also said there are reports he's been trying to contact the victim via third parties.
Carter resigned from his post as UA throws coach May 20 rather than be fired. He's facing criminal charges for suspicion of choking an athlete when she told him sheβd no longer have sex with him, and for threatening her with a box cutter and dragging her out of a classroom. He has pleaded not guilty to domestic violence-aggravated assault, stalking, and interfering with an educational institution.
The athlete, who graduated this year and is now living out of state, has since filed a civil action against Carter and the UA, saying that Carter subjected her to repeated sexual assaults.
She told the Star recently that she takes issue with police and media reports that she and Carter were in a relationship. The Star is not identifying her because she says she was the victim of a sex crime.
The lawsuit says the athlete had "no ability" to consent to having sex with Carter. UA officials have said that they took action to inform law enforcement and remove Carter from the university as soon as they became aware of his misconduct with the athlete.
The athlete told the Star that she feared for her safety, her family's safety and her athletic future if she did not submit to Carter. Brown this morning did not respond to the Star's inquiry as to whether the state ever considered charging Carter with sexual assault.
Two women affiliated with the UA track team on May 18 filed for court protection against Carter. The injunctions against harassment were filed in Tucson city court and they require Carter not to make any contact with the women.
When Godoy told Carter to stay away from the athletic fields this morning, Carter's attorney Nathan Leonardo told the judge that Carter's church is in that area. Godoy told him he could still go to church, but that he cannot go by the athletic fields to get there.
Carter, a married father and grandfather, was released shortly after his arrest in May on a $40,000 bond. Leonardo declined comment today.
