News

Actions

Attorney for U of U player charged with robbery says his client will plead not guilty

Posted at 9:18 PM, Jul 02, 2015
and last updated 2015-07-02 23:18:50-04

SALT LAKE CITY -- A standout football player at the University of Utah was charged with a felony Thursday in connection with a robbery in Millcreek.

Dominique Hatfield was arrested Tuesday after police said he robbed a man at knifepoint outside a carwash.

“He will be entering a not guilty plea," said Hatfield's attorney, Greg Skordas.

According to court documents, Hatfield used the name “David Wilkins” to post an online ad for an Xbox in the KSL Classified section. When the buyer arrived, however, police said a man pulled out a knife and demanded the victim turn over $180.

The man was later identified as Hatfield when the alleged victim’s wife contacted Wilkins via KSL, again, and set up a meeting to buy two iPhones. Police were there waiting and arrested Hatfield.

“Everything I’ve heard about this young man, and I've heard it from numerous people, speaks to a very, very good kid, a sweet kid, a kid who has a lot to look forward to in his life," Skordas said. "Everything about him is absolutely inconsistent with what’s being alleged here."

Skordas was retained Wednesday. While he would not go into any details of the case, he stated his client denies the accusations.

Hatfield was charged with aggravated robbery and theft of lost or mis-delivered property.

According to court documents, Hatfield denied any role in the robbery. When caught by police, he did have two iPhones with him, as requested by the alleged victim's wife. However, he later admitted the phones were taken from, “parties where sometimes drunk people would leave their phones.”

Police were able to determine that one of the phones was reported stolen in April of this year.

Hatfield is expected to be arraigned next week.