ASUO vice president’s trial postponed
ASUO Vice President Eduardo Morales, who is facing charges of assault and second-degree criminal mischief, had his trial postponed Tuesday to an undetermined date.
Morales appeared at Eugene Municipal Court on Tuesday afternoon, but Morales’ lawyer, ASUO Legal Services Director Ilona Koleszar, was the only one taking action. She presented City Prosecutor Liz Carle with “discovery,” a list of evidence and witnesses. Both attorneys agreed to reschedule the trial so the prosecution could interview witnesses.
Eugene Municipal Court Associate Judge Mary Jane Mori said Morales’ next court appearance will be in front of a jury; however, a jury trial could be bypassed if either a plea agreement is reached or the prosecutor drops the charges.
The City Prosecutor’s Office wouldn’t comment on the case.
Officers from the Eugene Police Department cited Morales for allegedly assaulting University senior Erica Hass early on the morning of Sept. 12 near Taylor’s Bar and Grill, at 894 East 13th Ave.
Morales pleaded innocent to the charges on Oct. 22.
During the investigation, Hass told an officer that Morales ran at her screaming, shoved her down, dragged her by her ankle for 15 to 20 feet and smashed her cell phone.
Morales told police that Hass fell because she was drunk, and her cell phone was destroyed because she threw it at him and he threw it back.
Morales could face as much as a $500 fine and/or 100 days in jail if found guilty of assault and a $2,500 fine and/or 100 days in jail if found guilty of criminal mischief in the second degree.

— Jared Paben