Former UC center Donald Little leaves the courtroom Tuesday with his attorney. (Gary Landers photo) | ZOOM |

        Former University of Cincinnati basketball center Donald Little pleaded guilty Tuesday to a reduced charge of aggravated assault for his part in the April attack on his roommate.

        Little, 23, could face up to 18 months in prison when he returns to court Dec. 16 for sentencing before Hamilton County Common Pleas Judge Thomas Crush.

        The 6-foot-11 native of Augusta, Ga., who graduated this summer, was removed from the team shortly after his indictment on felonious assault and kidnapping charges.

        A second man, Porfirio Baldwin, 24, has been arrested and is being detained in North Carolina. He also was charged with felonious assault and kidnapping. Prosecutors said the incident began March 29.

        Little and his roommate, Justin Hodge, 20, had driven to the bank, where Little cashed a $2,500 university check for his room and board.

        The two men returned to their Fairview Heights apartment, and Little placed the money in his dresser drawer. Hodge left that day to visit family near Cleveland. Little had intended to also leave for the weekend to visit family in Georgia. He later went to his dresser and found his money gone, prosecutors said.

        On April 1, Little and several others confronted Hodge when he returned, prosecutors said.

        Hodge denied taking the money. Little punched his roommate twice, knocking out a permanent bridge in hismouth. Prosecutors said Hodge was then taped to a chair, burned with a heated coat hanger and stabbed in the leg. Hodge needed medical treatment, but his injuries were not life-threatening.

        Little's attorney, Theodore Froncek, told Hamilton County Common Pleas Visiting Judge John O'Connor on Tuesday that his client at no time used a weapon and did nothing more than punch Hodge twice.

        Froncek said Little left the room and the others in the apartment attacked Hodge, who was blindfolded through much of the attack. When Little heard what was going on, he returned and stopped the others from severely hurting Hodge, Froncek added.

        The money was never found.

        Hodge, who was in court Tuesday with his parents, declined comment.

Huggins feeling fine, thinking basketball Little pleads guilty to assault

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