Syracuse football players Marquis Spruill and Steve Rene appeared in Syracuse City Court on Wednesday, stemming from their incident with Syracuse police in the early morning hours of Dec. 2.

Attorney Christopher Burke of Syracuse University Student Legal Services told Judge Theodore Limpert that Spruill, a junior linebacker, is undergoing counseling. Burke asked for the case to be adjourned until March 18, at which point Spruill’s progress in counseling will be assessed.

Burke said after the hearing that prosecutors want Spruill to plead guilty to at least one of the two charges he faces, which are of disorderly conduct and second-degree harassment.

Onondaga County Assistant District Attorney Matthew Bloss said Spruill’s progression will be taken into consideration.

Rene, a junior running back, already completed 40 hours of community service at Canarsie High School in Brooklyn, N.Y. Limpert asked Burke to bring a letter from whomever Rene completed the community service for to court on March 18, if not before. Rene faces charges of disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.

Rene also wrote a letter of apology to police that Limpert read during the hearing.

“Very good,” Limpert said. “Sounds very sincere.”

On March 18, Limpert will issue Rene an adjournment in contemplation of dismissal. If Rene stays out of trouble for six months, the case will be dismissed.

Both players were arrested in the early morning of Dec. 2. Rene was in the middle of Euclid Avenue yelling obscenities at pedestrians and police officers. An officer escorted Rene to the side of the street and spoke to him, but Rene returned to the street.

The officer attempted to handcuff Rene, but Spruill tried to pull him away. Both Spruill and Rene were placed into the back of a police car. While police questioned Rene, Spruill kicked the door of the police car open.

Both players spent the night in jail.

Spruill was fourth on the team in tackles in 2012 with 62. Former Syracuse head coach Doug Marrone held Spruill out of the first half of the Pinstripe Bowl as punishment.

Rene will miss a portion of the first game he plays in the next season, Marrone said in a statement in December. Rene missed the final six games this past season after suffering an upper-body injury that required surgery. Before the injury, Rene returned nine kicks for 193 yards and eight punts for a yard.

Published on January 30, 2013 at 4:12 pm

Contact Chris: cjiseman@syr.edu | @chris_iseman