It just officially got real for one member of the Notre Dame football program.
Tuesday, the South Bend Tribune is reporting, St. Joseph County (Ind.) prosecutors have formally charged Devin Butler with one count each of resisting law enforcement and battery of a police officer. Both of those charges are felonies, punishable by up to 2½ years in prison on each count if convicted.
On the day of Butler’s arrest, a university said in a statement that "[a]ny student arrested on a felony charge also faces dismissal from the university,” adding that "[t]he university will determine if additional sanctions should apply.” Butler was indefinitely suspended by the Irish the day after his arrest.
In an affidavit, it was alleged that Butler pushed police officers who were attempting to clear a scene outside of a South Bend drinking establishment -- one of them witnessed the cornerback shoving a woman -- before attacking one of the officers. Butler allegedly tackled the officer to the ground and punched him several times before pulling off his duty belt. Officers were ultimately forced to use a stun gun to subdue Butler.
It’s unclear what impact the formal charges filed today will have on Butler’s standing with both the football program and university. He was already going to be sidelined until early October because of an injury.