UCLA Kicker Pleads Not Guilty

Justin Medlock, UCLA’s suspended kicker, appeared before an Inglewood Superior Court judge Tuesday and pleaded not guilty to two alcohol-related felony charges.

Medlock, 22, was the driver in a car accident that injured Hannah Jun, 20, a member of UCLA’s women’s golf team, on Dec. 10. Medlock was charged with one count each of driving under the influence of alcohol causing injury and driving with a blood-alcohol level of .08% causing injury. If convicted, he faces up to six years in state prison.

Medlock, who is free on $10,000 bail, is scheduled to return to court Feb. 10 to set a date for a preliminary hearing date. His attorney, Milton Grimes, is hopeful an agreement with the district attorney’s office can be reached before then.

“We’re going to try and resolve this matter,” Grimes said. “This is out of character for Justin.”

Medlock, fifth on UCLA’s career field-goal list, did not play in the Bruins’ 50-38 victory over Northwestern in the Sun Bowl. He has one season of eligibility remaining.

“Justin is doing OK,” his mother, Tammy Medlock, said after attending her son’s court appearance. “But we’re really concerned about Hannah. It’s been tough ... the embarrassment of it all.”

Jun suffered multiple injuries that included a fractured vertebra in her neck, the district attorney’s office said. According to police, Medlock crashed a 1998 Toyota pickup into a call box on Interstate 405 in Inglewood about 3 a.m. Jun was found alone inside the truck, which had overturned.

Medlock was initially accused of fleeing the accident, but police now believe that Medlock left to get help.

“It was upsetting when it was not reported correctly at first,” Tammy Medlock said. “It makes you go through the run of emotions.... They’re hoping to get it settled because Justin will be going into his fourth year.... We’re hoping to have something done by the summer, so Justin can return back to his career.”

Although suspended from the football team, Medlock remains on scholarship and will be in school once winter break ends later this month.