Iti’s Guardian Denies Abuse Allegations

The guardian of Villa Park High School student Martin Iti on Monday denied allegations of child abuse and illegal immigrant smuggling, saying that the claims were made in retaliation.

Courtney Rosegreen, Iti’s caretaker since bringing him to the United States from Australia in June 1998 to further his basketball career, said that attorney Ronald E. Lais threatened to go public with the allegations unless Rosegreen agreed to keep Iti at Villa Park and petition the CIF for a fifth year of eligibility.

Iti, who is serving a one-year athletic suspension, then called Lais, Rosegreen said, and told the attorney he no longer wished to be associated with him. Rosegreen said he and Iti previously informed Lais they no longer intended to petition the CIF for eligibility because the matter had become too stressful for Iti.

Lais had represented Iti last summer in legal proceedings against his Australian mother, who at the time requested that her son return home because he had transferred four times during his short stay in the U.S.

But she softened her stance once Lais agreed that Iti would complete his high school career at Villa Park.

Lais’ involvement in the matter has come into question. According to Nancy McCarthy, a spokeswoman for the State Bar Assn., Lais was suspended from practicing law Dec. 1 for ethical violations. Additional charges of ethical misconduct are pending, McCarthy said, and the state bar might investigate whether his report of criminal activity against Rosegreen violated the terms of his suspension.

Lais said he plans to resign from the California bar in the next few days.