Girlfriend of UF's Pierre-Louis disputes charges

Starlett Lazenberry, the girlfriend of former Florida football player Wondy Pierre-Louis, stood before the judge at Pierre-Louis' first court appearance on Tuesday morning and disputed claims attributed to her in a Gainesville police report.

"I do not fear for my life or anything like that," Lazenberry said of Pierre-Louis. "He's not a danger to anyone. He couldn't hurt a frog."

Pierre-Louis turned himself in early Tuesday morning after charges were filed against him claiming that he broke into Lazenberry's apartment Sunday morning and tried to strangle her, forcing her to call 911. She claims none of the three happened, and that Pierre-Louis has a key to her apartment.

Pierre-Louis has been charged with kidnapping, domestic battery by strangulation, battery, unarmed burglary and obstructing justice by tampering.

Bail was reduced from $185,000 to $40,000 but the judge ruled he still saw probable cause.

Despite Lazenberry's comments, Gainesville State Attorney Bill Cervone will make the final decision on where the case goes next.

"While the victim of any crime is entitled to input as to what should happen, and while that is a factor we consider, the final decision as to what charges, if any, go forward is ours," Cervone told Florida Today.

"Similarly, the charges as alleged by law enforcement when making an arrest are not binding on us, and we will review the available evidence, the requirements of the law, and everything else involved in making a charging decision."

Pierre-Louis was booked at 2:06 a.m Tuesday, according to the Alachua County Jail Web site. Jail records did not list an attorney for him.

According to the complaint filed by Lazenberry with Gainesville police, the former Naples Lely High star is accused of kicking in the door of her apartment early Sunday morning. The complaint says he became enraged when he saw her with another man.

Gainesville police issued an arrest warrant for Pierre-Louis, who told the Fort Myers News-Press the accounts were "a lie."

Lazenberry also claimed Pierre-Louis trapped her in a bathroom and began choking her saying, "I could kill you." When she tried to escape, she claims, he pushed her onto a bed and began trying to strangle her. She was able to get away and call police at a neighbor's home

Pierre-Louis was a backup who played on special teams this past season as a senior. He has not graduated.

Pieree-Louis is a native of Haiti, and his family has been dealing with the aftermath of the earthquake that has left the country severely damaged. His parents survived but their home was destroyed.

Pierre-Louis was charged with domestic battery by strangulation, unarmed burglary of an occupied dwelling, kidnapping and obstructing justice, all felonies. He was also charged with misdemeanor battery.