Second man faces charges
Published 12:00 am Saturday, November 25, 2006
WINDSOR – A second man faces charges in an incident which allegedly occurred at Bertie High School last week.
Wally Fitzgerald Lee of Everetts Street in Ahoskie voluntarily surrendered at the Bertie County Sheriff’s Office Tuesday after warrants were drawn for his arrest in the case.
Lee faces one count of aiding and abetting assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury and one count of aiding and abetting child abuse inflicting serious injury.
According to Chief Deputy John Holley of the Bertie County Sheriff’s Office, an incident occurred last week while coaches were conducting practice drills for football. The team was preparing for a second round playoff game at SouthWest Edgecombe.
Deputies spoke with players who were on the practice field during the incident and Holley indicated the alleged victim, a 15-year-old juvenile, apparently became tired at which time a coach tried to “pump the player up to continue.”
Words were exchanged between coaches and the player and it is alleged by the juvenile that Christshawn Gillam, 26, of Windsor pushed the player. An exchange of blows between the
player and coach allegedly followed.
Gillam, a standout player at Bertie and East Carolina University, was arrested and posted a $5,000 bond after being processed at the sheriff’s office. He was charged with assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury and felony child abuse with serious injury.
“The player said he was struck in the eye,” Holley said. “The coach said his head inadvertently struck the player near the eye as the player was lifting up his head after pulling off part of his practice gear.”
Lee, who is not a fulltime employee of Bertie County Schools, posted the $5,000 bond and was released. It was unclear Friday whether or not Lee was a paid assistant coach or a volunteer.