Youth Football Coach Is Held in Assault on Player

An assistant youth football coach was arrested on suspicion of felony child abuse after allegedly rushing the field and assaulting a boy on the opposing team, police said.

Cory Petero, 36, of Riverbank, Calif., turned himself in to Stockton police Saturday night after what witnesses described as a late hit that turned into a brawl, with parents and children from both teams fighting on the field.

Referee Tim Winek said he had just called a penalty on Brian Wood, 13, a Stockton Bears player.

“There was a penalty on the play, and it was a late hit,” Winek said. “The parent of the kid who got hit took exception to it. He came charging out onto the field.”

Daniel Champion, who identified himself as Wood’s father, told the Stockton Record that his son suffered bruises on his stomach and jaw from the assault.

The brawl erupted about 3:30 p.m., with less than a minute left to play between the Riveroak Redskins and the Bears.

Fighting continued at varying levels of intensity for about 20 minutes, witnesses said.

No major injuries were reported.