Five Fontana Players Charged With Battery After Playoff Melee

Five Fontana High football players are facing misdemeanor battery charges for their roles in a violent incident after a playoff game against Loyola on Nov. 19, a Los Angeles Police detective said Friday.

The incident began when a Fontana player punched a Loyola assistant coach during the postgame handshake after Loyola’s 28-7 victory in the first round of the Southern Section Division I playoffs at Pierce College in Woodland Hills. The punch and subsequent melee were caught on videotape.

After investigations by the Los Angeles Community College District police and the LAPD, four juveniles were arrested Wednesday and charged with misdemeanor battery at the West Valley station, Det. Rick Swanston said. Three of them were released to their parents. One was detained at Sylmar Juvenile Hall, pending the arrival of his parents, and was subsequently released.

The fifth player, Anthony Robinson, 18, was not arrested, but on Friday was mailed a voluntary appearance letter by the Los Angeles City Attorney’s office, said Richard A. Schmidt, assistant city attorney. Robinson is scheduled to be arraigned in Van Nuys Municipal Court on Jan. 4.