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MSU Football Recruit Charged With Assault In Alleged Body Slamming

DETROIT (WWJ/AP) - A Detroit prep football star has been charged with assaulting a security guard who asked him to remove his hood inside a high school.

Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy says Tuesday that 17-year-old Jayru Campbell is expected to surrender to authorities ahead of an arraignment Wednesday in 36th District Court.

Jayru Campbell
Jayru Campbell

Campbell is charged with felony assault and misdemeanor aggravated assault.

The junior is considered one of the top high school quarterbacks in Michigan. He is accused of picking up the male security guard and slamming him to the floor on Jan. 22 in a Cass Technical High School hallway.

Speaking at a news conference on Tuesday, Worthy said the facts of the case speak for themselves.

"Under the facts of this case, any defendant — no matter who they are — would have been charged as he was charged today," Worthy said. "The fact that the defendant is a talented high school football player does not change these facts."

"We don't charge people, or not charge people, due to their station in life," she said. "The law and it's consequences applies to everything."

The security guard suffered a facial injury in the open wound to the head, Worthy said.

The alleged assault was captured on video, which will be presented as evidence in the case. [Watch the video HERE].

Asked why it took so long to bring charges, Worthy said she's short-staffed due to budget cuts.

David Alexander Bullock, founder of Change Agent Consortium, believes Campbell was overcharged.

"Amid the public scrutiny he is facing during this predicament we must remember he is a youth -- a high school student," Bullock said in a statement. "Actions have consequences and Jayru must be held accountable; however, a felony charge seems excessive. This mistake should not end his football aspirations or his academic future... In this climate of locking youth up instead of lifting them up it is my hope that Jayru Campbell will not become another statistic, but will become a success story."

Campbell led Cass Tech to back to back state titles in 2011 and 2012, and had committed to play at Michigan State University in 2015.  It's still not clear if the incident will affect his scholarship.

It's not the first time Campbell has been involved in an incident at Cass Tech. He was suspended from school and the first game of the 2014 season after reportedly punching someone in the handshake line following Cass Tech's 28-0 loss to Detroit Catholic Central in the semifinals last November.

TM and © Copyright 2014 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2014 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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