Assault and battery charges filed against Virginia Commonwealth star Mo Alie-Cox last month will be dropped, according to a release by the school. A woman said Alie-Cox, who averaged 7.5 PPG, 1.9 BPG and 5.7 RPG, punched her in the face at a Richmond, Virginia, nightclub hours after former coach Shaka Smart informed VCU that he'd be leaving to take the Texas job.
The school initially withheld comment, citing its desire to allow the legal process to move forward.
"We have been informed by the Richmond Commonwealth Attorney's Office they have determined that Mo had no involvement in the alleged assault and that the charges against him will be withdrawn," athletic director Ed McLaughlin said in the school's statement on Thursday. "These actions confirm our knowledge and experience of Mo as an upstanding young man of the highest character who has represented our men's basketball program and our university with exemplary leadership academically, socially and athletically. We look forward to watching him continue to represent VCU for the next two years as a member of our program."
The complainant, Morgan Ashley Kaye, said she'd scuffled with a woman at the nightclub April 3, the night Smart told his former team he was leaving. She accused Alie-Cox of getting involved, hitting her and leaving the club after denying his involvement in the incident. Kaye filed the complaint on April 22. Alie-Cox should play a major role as new coach Will Wade attempts to stabilize a program that has already lost talented freshman Terry Larrier and elite recruit Tevin Mack in the aftermath of Smart's departure.
"We are pleased that Mo can now put this allegation behind him," Wade said in the school's statement. "After speaking with Mo and gathering all of the facts on this situation, we believed and hoped that his name would be cleared. From the time we began recruiting Mo four years ago, he has always carried himself the right way with terrific grace and humility. We are proud to have Mo as a member of the VCU family and basketball team. We look forward to continuing to build on his outstanding career as a Ram these next two seasons."