Two former St. Francis football players enter ARD program; charges could be dismissed in sexual assault case

Joshua Byers, The Tribune-Democrat, Johnstown, Pa.
·3 min read
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Apr. 12—EBENSBURG, Pa. — Two former St. Francis University football players entered the Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition program Thursday before Judge Tamara Bernstein in Cambria County court.

The development followed a year of court proceedings in the cases against Marcel Mami, 21, of Frederick, Maryland, and Daunte White, 21, of Wharton, New Jersey.

"This case was resolved after several consultations with the victim and in light of several issues which arose after charges were filed," Cambria County District Attorney Gregory Neugebauer said. "The victim indicated that they desired to move on from the incident, and we must always be mindful of how cases can affect victims and take their wishes into consideration."

Loretto Borough police arrested White and Mami in January 2023, accusing them of sexually assaulting a woman during an off-campus party in February 2022.

Mami faced counts of rape, conspiracy and unlawful restraint, while White was charged with involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, conspiracy and unlawful restraint.

An ARD solution — typically reserved for first-time nonviolent offenders and intended to encourage them to make a fresh start — includes no admission of guilt from White or Mami and could lead to their charges being dismissed and records being expunged.

During the course of the ARD program, defendants must complete terms set by the court, and if they succeed in meeting those requirements, they can apply for expungement upon completion of the program.

However, the charges remain in place while participating, and any violation of the ARD terms could result in charges being pursued again.

Mami's attorney, Paul Lang, said the outcome of the case "underscores the baselessness of the allegations that were hastily leveled against (Mami)."

"My client has accepted participation in the first-time offender program — a decision that will not only keep his record clean, but also lead to the dismissal of the case and ultimate expungement," he said.

Lang said that although the outcome is satisfactory, it's regrettable the resolution came after Mami was expelled and there was a "rush to judgement," which he said "further exemplifies the perils of public opinion outpacing factual investigation and due process."

"It is a stark reminder of the importance of reserving judgment and allowing legal proceedings to unfold," Lang said.

The attorney said that he and his client look forward to "healing and rebuilding" Mami's reputation and that the case's resolution is "a poignant moment for institutions to reflect on the value of truth and justice over hasty judgments."

Matthew Jaynes, defense counsel for White, said: "At all times throughout this process, Mr. White has strongly maintained his innocence in involvement of any wrongdoing. We were confident in success at trial, should it have come to it. However, we were able to reach an alternative resolution whereby Mr. White has entered into the ARD program.

"Upon review of all the evidence and witness interviews, in my opinion, charges should have never been filed. But we are glad that Mr. White will maintain a spotless criminal record and continue on as a hard-working, productive member of society."