Titan Gymnast Rodriguez Cleared of Assault Charge

Cal State Fullerton gymnast Eli Rodriguez has been found not guilty on a misdemeanor assault charge stemming from an incident in which a former teammate suffered knife wounds to the stomach.

A jury in Municipal Court in Fullerton deliberated less than two hours Wednesday. The trial had lasted more than a week.

Rodriguez had originally been charged with felony assault, but the charge was reduced in a preliminary hearing.

A former Fullerton gymnast, Steve Ciccarelli, was hospitalized with serious knife injuries after an argument with Rodriguez at a party last September. Witnesses testified that Rodriguez tried to avoid fighting but picked up a kitchen knife to protect himself.

“It was self-defense,” said Stephan DeSales, Rodriguez’s attorney. “He did everything he could to avoid a fight. . . . Basically he picked up a knife trying to defend himself and (Ciccarelli) ran into it.”

Rodriguez was suspended by Fullerton officials at the time of his arrest, but was cleared to practice with the team after the charge was reduced. He was the captain of the team this season, and was one of two Fullerton men to compete in the National Collegiate Athletic Assn. championships.