For Now, Marinovich to Stay With Avengers

For now, the Los Angeles Avengers will stand beside Todd Marinovich in spite of his latest brush with the law.

Marinovich, 30, was released shortly after midnight Wednesday on $50,000 bail after his arrest on suspicion of sexual assault. He is scheduled to be arraigned in Municipal Court on May 16 in Culver City.

On Tuesday, Marinovich was arrested by Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies at the team’s practice facility at West Los Angeles College. He was booked on suspicion of sexual assault after a 19-year-old unidentified woman accused Marinovich of attacking her at his Marina del Rey apartment.

The woman sought treatment at a hospital, and detectives from the sheriff’s Marina del Rey station arrested Marinovich based on her statement and physical evidence from her examination at the hospital.

Gary Pohlson, Marinovich’s attorney, said he has “witness statements” that Marinovich and the woman had consensual sex. “When all the facts are known it will be obvious that this was nothing but consensual sex,” Pohlson said.

Pohlson, who spent Wednesday afternoon in consultation with Marinovich, previously represented Marinovich on drug charges.

Avenger Coach Stan Brock, who spent much of Wednesday giving a deposition on the Arena Football League’s labor agreement with the players’ union, said, “Marinovich has been, is now and will be part of this football team. I totally expect him to be here tomorrow morning at the quarterback meetings. With respect to the law, we have to let it run its course.”

But Brock stopped short of saying that Marinovich, backup to starting quarterback Scott Semptimphelter, would be available for Monday’s home game against Oklahoma. On the team’s 24-man roster, four players are deactivated before every game.

“I’m not ready to make that decision,” Brock said. “I won’t put a timeline on it; as soon as I figure it out and talk with him I’ll make that decision.”

Even though Marinovich--who played two seasons with the Los Angeles Raiders in the NFL--went to jail two years ago after pleading guilty to felony marijuana cultivation and a misdemeanor charge of possessing prescription medicine not in his name, Brock said neither he nor the team wanted to rush to judgment.

“It’s a very unfortunate situation,” Brock said. “As far as I’m concerned, people are innocent until proven guilty.”

Before he left the Avengers’ facility Wednesday, Brock instructed the team not to discuss the Marinovich situation with the media.

While no player would speak on the record, several Avengers indicated shock at the accusation.

“He’s been a good guy since he’s been here,” said one player who requested anonymity. “He’s always come to practice on time, come to the meetings on time. He’s caused zero problems. It’s really hard to believe.”

“Right now Todd has our moral support,” said another player who did not want to be identified. “We don’t know the whole situation. The only people who know are the ones who were there in his apartment at the time.”

The players are determined not to let Marinovich’s situation become a distraction as they prepare for Monday’s game against Oklahoma at Staples Center. “With or without him we still have to get a win,” said a player, mindful of the expansion team’s 0-2 start to the season.