Charge against Windsor coach withdrawn
Wednesday, June 20, 2012 by: Brad Coccimiglio
An aggravated assault charge against Windsor Spitfires associate coach Bob Jones (shown) was withdrawn on Monday.
A three-day trial was scheduled to open on Wednesday at the Sault Ste. Marie courthouse.
The charge stemmed from an incident outside of Docks Riverfront Grill on Feb. 26, 2011. 21–year-old Steven Rimmer, 19 at the time, suffered a broken jaw in the incident.
The Windsor Star is reporting that the crown agreed to withdraw the charge after Jones apologized to Rimmer and has agreed to pay damages.
A copy of what was put on the record by the crown in court on Monday was released by the Ministry of the Attorney General.
“Mr. Rimmer was significantly injured and sustained considerable damage in this incident,” Mike Kelly, the Sault Ste. Marie crown who handled the case, said for the record. “Mr. Jones has addressed those damages in two significant ways. He has undertaken to pay for the damages incurred and has provided a sincere apology to Mr. Rimmer in private and in public. He has accepted responsibility for his part in this incident and he has made things right with Mr. Rimmer.”
When contacted by the Windsor Star Jones declined comment.
A statement from Jones was reportedly read in court where Jones accepted responsibility for the incident and did not view Rimmer as the instigator.
Shortly after the initial incident, the Spitfires, through General Manager Warren Rychel, released a statement that said “5 unruly, angry young men unexpectedly confronted Bob Jones while he waited for a taxicab to take him to his hotel room.”
A physical altercation ensued shortly after a verbal exchange.
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PipeBomb 6/20/2012 9:44:13 AM ReportGood one TUFF GUY! The Windsor Spitfires make me sick...the entire organization is a bunch of jackasses.
cooker_eh 6/20/2012 9:54:03 AM ReportWhat a bunch of B.S. I've seen this too many times where these young aholes start chirping and acting tough then get their 10 buddies to back them up. There is no way a guy in Bob's position and at his age instigates a fight with a group - not one - a group of young dick heads for the fun of it. Most of the young guys are cool but there is always a few looking for trouble and guess what - you found it didn't you Stevie.
Stevie-E 6/20/2012 10:42:41 AM ReportPipeBomb
Really? Do you know them personally or are you jealous that a young group of individuals with connections to the Soo are doing better than you.
I agree with cooker_eh, and also know the Windsor group very well. There is no way that they would instigate a fight. I know how young punk males are in the Soo. They are angry, don't like to fight fair and bring in as many guys as they need to get the job done
Furthermore, many people down south know SSM as a "fighting" town and can GUARANTEE that that 19 year old loser deserved it. He was probably upset that his girlfriend was paying more attention to a 40 year than him.
231Turbo6 6/20/2012 11:02:21 AM ReportFrom what i've been told, it was that the supposed "victim" and two friends that started the altercation with the Spitfires coach, they also, if i remember correctly stole his championship ring. Guy deserved the broken jaw.
Justin Tetreault 6/20/2012 11:57:51 AM ReportNo one stole his ring. It was found in the parking lot a few days later.
hitch 6/20/2012 12:00:42 PM ReportCongrats on the charges Bob! Would have made travelling through states a prob. 4sure! I hope ya got ur ring back!
geterdun 6/20/2012 4:06:40 PM ReportYea ok a forty year old beats up a 19 year old??????????hum I could just imagine if I went out and beat the hell out of 19 year old........If some guy beat up my 19 yr son I know what I would do to him....just another hockey dude who gets away with assault????? so as not to screw up his life and carrer???????? congratulations on your assault of a youth there pal.you should feel proud....as for the crown prosecuters....you need to Get a real job bud.....obviously law is not your forte......LAWYERS!!!!!!! there worse than insurance companies when it comes to honesty and fairness..........
Stevie-E 6/20/2012 4:40:14 PM Report@geterdun
I have no idea who's side you're taking on this because the ridiculous use of punctuation, but I think you are implying that Mr. Jones just went after this "kid." Well, I believe that a 40 year old does not have any need to go after someone unless there was a good reason.
Was Mr. Jones even the guy that actually threw the punch?! There's a lot of speculation but I know the track record of the local bar dwellers and they like to cause s**t, especially if the opposing team is in the same bar.
A 19 year old with an ego and liquid courage got more than he bargained for. I am sure Mr. Jones isn't proud of the incident, with his reputation dragged through the mud. He coaches 19 years olds so it makes no sense at all.
The best part is that he wasn't even a fighter when he played for the Hounds!
KGK 6/20/2012 7:05:29 PM ReportWould charges against a man who is not a "sports celebrity" be withdrawn once he apologized to a victim who received a major injury. The Crown is sending a wrong message -- if you are known you can get away with breaking the law.
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