KING COUNTY, Wash. — A parent accused of attacking a referee at a middle school basketball game has been charged with second-degree assault.
Mark Robert McLaughlin was at his son’s basketball game at Kenmore Middle School two weeks ago, when he allegedly rammed a referee and knocked him face-first to the floor during a skirmish between the young players, according to court documents.
Court documents say McLaughlin’s son intentionally fouled another player, which led to a skirmish between the players.
During the confrontation, the victim was breaking up the players and McLaughlin’s son was knocked onto the floor. When the referee went to help the boy up, McLaughlin suddenly came from the stands onto the court and knocked the referee down, according to court records.
Probable cause documents said the referee was “blind-sided and hit from behind.”
The incident was recorded on video and the investigating deputy stated that McLaughlin appeared to charge onto the basketball court, going directly for the referee in the middle of the skirmish.
The referee was taken to Northwest Medical Center for treatment. He suffered a broken nose and cheekbone in the fall to the floor and it reportedly took an hour and a half for his nose to stop bleeding, records state.
McLaughlin appeared in court on Dec. 18 and a judge set his bail at $20,000, which he posted.
McLaughlin is due back in court Monday to enter his plea.
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