High school basketball referee Brandon Knapper unexpectedly found himself in legal trouble during a fall league basketball game in Corona, California, after he was accused of attacking Oak Hills head coach Rob Alexander. The October 21st event has sparked questions about high school sports officials’ behavior and sportsmanship.
The altercation transpired after referee Brandon Knapper and Oak Hills head coach Rob Alexander became more tense during the autumn league game between Arlington and Oak Hills. According to witnesses, the argument started because Alexander didn’t like the way Knapper officiated the second half of the game. The argument turned physical during a videotaped incident. Alexander was punched in the face by Knapper, who then knocked him to the ground.
Players’ and fans’ intervention: The video shows Knapper punching Alexander while he is on the ground. Before long, players and spectators stepped in to break up the fight and cater to the injured coach. Police were called to the location to deal with the rapidly worsening situation, and the game was not resumed.
Legal Repercussions for Knapper: After the incident, Brandon Knapper turned himself in at the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department jail. He was then charged with assault with intent to cause grave bodily harm and battery inflicting serious bodily damage. Knapper was released following the payment of his $25,000 bail. November 3 is Knapper’s scheduled court date.
Alexander’s Request for Prosecution: In order to draw attention to the seriousness of the incident, Rob Alexander, the assaulted coach, filed a request for prosecution against Knapper. The legal actions that were brought against the referee highlight the negative effects of using violence when overseeing sports.
About Brandon Knapper’s past:
Before assuming the position of basketball referee, 26-year-old Knapper was a stand-in player for West Virginia, Eastern Kentucky, and Cal State San Bernardino. This sad occurrence has tarnished his transition from player to official and highlighted the standards of conduct and accountability for sports officials.
Oak Hills’ Hesperia Unified School District’s response:
Oak Hills High School, on behalf of the Hesperia Unified School District, issued a statement thanking local law enforcement and event sponsors for their prompt efforts. Coach Alexander is in good spirits and excited to get back to coaching and teaching as soon as possible, the district further stated. To ensure proper handling of the situation, police enforcement, the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF), and Oak Hills High School will conduct a full investigation into the occurrence.