Former UA Assistant Coach Aggravated Assault Trial Begins Tuesday

TUCSON, AZ – After almost three years and several delays, the trial of former Arizona assistant track coach Craig Carter is scheduled to begin on Tuesday. Carter is charged with the aggravated assault of a member of the track and field team with whom he had a year-long sexual relationship.

Carter is charged with assaulting a shot putter, Baillie Gibson, after she broke off the relationship and said that she was transferring. She says that she was forced into it, he claims it was consensual. While Patch does not normally name sexual assault victims, Gibson has told her story to several outlets over the past three years.

She told University of Arizona police that he had assaulted her while they were in his office. choking her and threatening with a box cutter.

Later that week, he tried to drag her out a classroom but she broke free and reported the incident to University of Arizona police.

Court records indicate that he admitted telling her that "I'll cut your face."

Carter is also charged with stalking Gibson – after the assault, police recovered dozens of text messages that he had sent her. Those charges will be heard in a separate trial.

As the criminal trials move forward, Carter also faces a civil suit from Gibson.

The Arizona Daily Star reports that because the incidents happened while the was a university employee, the university is obligated to pay for this defense. If he is convicted, they will be able to stop those payments and sue to recover taxpayer funds that have already been spent.

Photo via Pima County Sheriff's Department.