Melo case rescheduled for Nov. 30
Syracuse sophomore center Fab Melo’s case in domestic violence court was postponed for the fifth time on Monday and will now be heard Nov. 30.
Melo was scheduled to appear in the Syracuse City Court Monday but did not show. Melo is facing a misdemeanor charge of fourth-degree criminal mischief after he was accused of breaking the turn signal on his then girlfriend’s car during an argument on May 30.
Gary Sommer, Melo’s defense lawyer, gave City Judge Stephen Dougherty an update on Melo’s progress with counseling, which he remains in for the May incident. But he did not reveal when the counseling would conclude.
The SU basketball season begins Nov. 1 with an exhibition game against California State University Los Angeles.
‘I think what happens in court has nothing to do with basketball,’ Sommer said outside the courtroom after being asked how the case may affect Melo’s playing time.
Pete Moore, Syracuse director of athletic communications and spokesman for the men’s basketball team, declined to comment on Melo’s case.
Sommer said they weren’t ready to proceed yet this time around but added that he’s hopeful the case will conclude in November. The Nov. 30 court date for Melo is nearly one month into Syracuse basketball’s 2011 2012 season.
‘Cases get postponed until all the pieces are together,’ he said, declining to reveal what those pieces were.
The May incident occurred in the 300 block of Slocum Heights. The case was entirely handled by Syracuse Police Department. Melo is accused of reaching through the driver’s side window of a 2003 Chevrolet Impala and breaking the turn signal. When the turn signal broke, the headlight high beam control and windshield wiper control also became inoperable.
Fourth-degree criminal mischief charges are given in instances of recklessly damaging another’s property, exceeding $250 in damage.
