Gophers' McNeil appears in court on assault charges

Suspended Gophers men's basketball guard Daquein McNeil's maroon-and-gold uniform was replaced by an orange jail jumpsuit for his first Hennepin County District Court appearance Monday, and it wasn't clear if he'll be back in street clothes soon.

Judge Gina Brandt set McNeil's bail at $30,000 with conditions for two felony charges stemming from alleged incidents of whipping and choking his former girlfriend on Nov. 24. Defense lawyer F. Clayton Tyler said McNeil will plead not guilty. He didn't enter a plea Monday.

In his brief appearance, he stood behind a glass partition, responding only to inquiries from the judge about his name, birth date and whether he understood the concept of not going near or contacting his 28-year-old former girlfriend by any means. McNeil cocked his head and looked wide-eyed at the judge and around the courtroom.

McNeil, who turned 21 in jail on Friday, has no prior convictions or warrants. He will next appear in court Jan. 5.

Tyler said he did not know if McNeil had the means or family support to post bail. He told the judge that his client is a full-time student-athlete without a paying job. To be released pending trial, McNeil would need about $3,000 cash and some form of collateral for the remainder.

Although Tyler sought a lower bail, Brandt agreed with the amount the prosecutor sought. The Hennepin County assistant attorney argued that McNeil faces two charges from separate attacks in one day, having choked his former girlfriend and returned to whip her with a leather belt.

Tyler said that if McNeil is unable to get out of jail, he will seek a hearing sooner than January and push for a speedy trial. Brandt said the court would meet that request if necessary. The defense attorney wouldn't talk about the alleged incidents on Nov. 24, but he mentioned McNeil's attempts to escape a rough childhood in East Baltimore.

University Athletic Director Norwood Teague said in a statement after charges were announced last week that McNeil "will remain suspended from all team-related activities" during the legal process. University President Eric Kaler, also in a statement, said he supported the suspension.

The conduct code affords the university the right to suspend or expel a student without having the legal system reach a conclusion.

When McNeil was 13, his father was shot and killed. Two months later, his mother died after a long battle with lupus. He was raised by an aunt, and attended two high schools before receiving a scholarship offer from Florida International, where Richard Pitino was coaching. After Pitino took the job at Minnesota, he brought McNeil with him.

"This is a young man who … has come to our university playing basketball and seems to have shaken some of the tragedies and the difficulties in his life," County Attorney Mike Freeman said last week.

But court documents describe a prolonged attack.

She was sleeping when McNeil entered her room carrying a cooking pan, the charges say. He smashed a mirror and began pulling out drawers before her male roommate heard the commotion and ushered McNeil out of the apartment. But McNeil returned and choked the woman as he pushed her against the wall. He followed her into the shower and whipped her with a belt, the complaint said.

Photos of her injuries taken the following day depicted prominent bruises and lash marks on her arms, back, buttocks, chest and legs.