Judge sets bond at $500K for Christensen
Prosecutors asked for less, but a judge Monday set NU football player Andy Christensen’s bond at a half-million dollars.
Charges have not been filed yet against the senior offensive lineman, who is set to return to court Tuesday.
But Nebraska head coach Bo Pelini suspended him indefinitely this weekend, after Lincoln police arrested him on suspicion of sexual assault at a downtown bar early Saturday and resisting arrest.
According to court records, a 23-year-old University of Nebraska–Lincoln senior alleges Christensen came up to her at the Brass Rail, 1436 O St. She turned away from him and he reached up under her skirt and assaulted her.
When she turned back toward him in reaction, she says, he pulled his hand away and went to another part of the bar.
Police were called to the bar at 12:32 a.m. on the alleged assault and arrested Christensen outside the Brass Rail.
They say he “aggressively resisted” efforts to handcuff him and put him in a police SUV, allegedly kicking at officers and denting the SUV.
At the jail, Christensen had to be put in a security chair to control his “agitated behavior.”
He was quiet Monday, escorted into a Lancaster County Courtroom in blue jail clothes at about 2 p.m., with chains around his ankles.
Andy Jacobsen of the Lancaster County attorney’s office asked County Judge Lyn White to set his percentage bond at $300,000 and include a provision he have no contact with the alleged victim should he get out.
Christensen’s attorney, Brad Roth, asked the judge to consider a lower bond, taking into account he has no criminal record, is an honor student and that his parents are lifetime Bennington residents.
He said he saw no flight risk.
White read aloud the details of Christensen’s arrest from court records, including allegations he kicked at officers and dented the police Tahoe.
This is in addition to the sexual assault allegation, she said before setting his bond at $500,000. He would need to post $50,000 to get out of jail.
Outside the courtroom, Roth said he had no comment.
When reached by phone, the alleged victim declined to comment. The Journal Star does not identify victims of alleged sexual assaults.
Pelini said in a statement this weekend he was aware of the arrest of Christensen, regarded as a strong candidate to start at either guard or center this season.
“The charges against Andy are serious in nature and these types of actions will not be tolerated,” Pelini said. “Andy has been indefinitely suspended from our football program. I will address Andy’s future status when more complete details regarding the situation are available.”
Christensen graduated from Bennington High School and started eight of 14 games during his sophomore year in 2006, playing both guard spots. In his junior year, he suffered a season-ending knee injury in the third game of the season against Southern California.
Christensen also earned several academic honors, claiming first-team academic All-Big 12 status in 2006.
Reach Lori Pilger at 473-7237 or lpilger@journalstar.com. Brian Christopherson contributed to this report.
Charges have not been filed yet against the senior offensive lineman, who is set to return to court Tuesday.
But Nebraska head coach Bo Pelini suspended him indefinitely this weekend, after Lincoln police arrested him on suspicion of sexual assault at a downtown bar early Saturday and resisting arrest.
According to court records, a 23-year-old University of Nebraska–Lincoln senior alleges Christensen came up to her at the Brass Rail, 1436 O St. She turned away from him and he reached up under her skirt and assaulted her.
When she turned back toward him in reaction, she says, he pulled his hand away and went to another part of the bar.
Police were called to the bar at 12:32 a.m. on the alleged assault and arrested Christensen outside the Brass Rail.
They say he “aggressively resisted” efforts to handcuff him and put him in a police SUV, allegedly kicking at officers and denting the SUV.
At the jail, Christensen had to be put in a security chair to control his “agitated behavior.”
He was quiet Monday, escorted into a Lancaster County Courtroom in blue jail clothes at about 2 p.m., with chains around his ankles.
Andy Jacobsen of the Lancaster County attorney’s office asked County Judge Lyn White to set his percentage bond at $300,000 and include a provision he have no contact with the alleged victim should he get out.
Christensen’s attorney, Brad Roth, asked the judge to consider a lower bond, taking into account he has no criminal record, is an honor student and that his parents are lifetime Bennington residents.
He said he saw no flight risk.
White read aloud the details of Christensen’s arrest from court records, including allegations he kicked at officers and dented the police Tahoe.
This is in addition to the sexual assault allegation, she said before setting his bond at $500,000. He would need to post $50,000 to get out of jail.
Outside the courtroom, Roth said he had no comment.
When reached by phone, the alleged victim declined to comment. The Journal Star does not identify victims of alleged sexual assaults.
Pelini said in a statement this weekend he was aware of the arrest of Christensen, regarded as a strong candidate to start at either guard or center this season.
“The charges against Andy are serious in nature and these types of actions will not be tolerated,” Pelini said. “Andy has been indefinitely suspended from our football program. I will address Andy’s future status when more complete details regarding the situation are available.”
Christensen graduated from Bennington High School and started eight of 14 games during his sophomore year in 2006, playing both guard spots. In his junior year, he suffered a season-ending knee injury in the third game of the season against Southern California.
Christensen also earned several academic honors, claiming first-team academic All-Big 12 status in 2006.
Reach Lori Pilger at 473-7237 or lpilger@journalstar.com. Brian Christopherson contributed to this report.
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