TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

USF player Pupello charged with aggravated battery

University of South Florida

Trent Pupello was expected to miss this football season due to a lingering neck injury suffered in an October car crash.

ADVERTISEMENT

By JOSH POLTILOVE

jpoltilove@tampatrib.com

Published: April 24, 2009

Updated: 04/24/2009 07:23 pm

A University of South Florida tight end, the son of one of the city's most prominent families, was arrested today on charges of aggravated battery with a firearm.

Tampa police say 21-year-old Trent Pupello pistol-whipped three people at Channelside on Apr. 12, fracturing one person's left orbital socket.

He was arrested at 2:20 p.m. today.

Pupello, a Jefferson High graduate and a USF junior this fall, was charged with three counts of aggravated battery with a firearm and one count each of aggravated assault with a firearm and discharging a firearm in public.

His bail was set at $25,000. He has since been released from jail.

On Apr. 10, police say, about 15 people including Pupello were involved in a fight about 2:50 a.m. in the parking lot of The Hut at Channelside.

Pupello broke away, got a handgun from his 2005 GMC Denali vehicle and ran back toward the crowd, firing in the air several times, police say.

He pistol-whipped three people, causing a bump to one, bruises and cuts to another and breaking the left orbital socket of a third person, police spokeswoman Laura McElroy said. Before he left the scene, he also tried swinging at another person but missed, McElroy said.

Police came to Pupello's home on Thursday, trying to arrest him. They left a message for him, and his attorney got in contact with investigators. Pupello turned himself in to jail today.

Pupello's father, Joe Pupello Sr., owns the Tahitian Inn on South Dale Mabry Highway.

Two years ago, investigators determined that Pupello's brother, Joe Pupello Jr., acted in self-defense when he shot two men. No charges were filed.

Trent Pupello was expected to miss this football season for USF due to a lingering neck injury suffered in a car crash in October. He signed with the University of Florida in 2006 and spent two years there before transferring to USF in November 2007.

Joe Pupello Sr. said the biggest reason for the transfer was "residing in Tampa to take care of a family situation."

Trent Pupello received an NCAA hardship waiver, allowing him to play last season for the Bulls. Pupello played in 10 games, making two starts at tight end. He had two catches for 26 yards.

Pupello, who has two years of eligibility, had hoped to return to the field in 2010, Joe Pupello told The Tampa Tribune last month.

USF head coach Jim Leavitt was quick to distance his program from Pupello on Friday.

"We have not been involved with Trent Pupello since the beginning of the semester," he said in a statement. "He was not going to play for us in 2009 because of an injury and academic issues.

"I am just learning of the situation. However if the charges were true, we would never allow anyone that is involved in behavior of that nature to be a part of the USF football program."

After a car crash last year, Pupello had been able to continue lifting weights and working out, but there is still some nerve damage.

"We don't know what damage there is with the nerves," Joe Pupello told the Tribune in March. "He has a bulging disc.

"We hope he'll be ready for the fall. It's been very, very tough. Trent was fortunate to survive the accident and he's trying to get better. If he can't play anymore, he'll remain at USF as a student, graduate and get his degree."

Reporter Brett McMurphy contributed to this report. Reporter Josh Poltilove can be reached at (813) 259-7691.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT