Hearing set for UNLV’s Tre’Von Willis in domestic battery case

By Cara McCoy

Tuesday, Aug. 3, 2010 | 9:43 a.m.

A preliminary hearing on a charge of domestic violence filed against UNLV basketball player Tre'Von Willis has been set for November.

Willis' attorney, Steven Wolfson, appeared on his behalf at an arraignment hearing this morning in Henderson Justice Court, where the preliminary hearing was set for Nov. 22. Willis wasn't in court.

Willis, 22, was arrested in June after an alleged altercation with a female acquaintance at a Henderson apartment. He was released from the Henderson Detention Center shortly after his arrest upon posting bond of $18,637.

He is charged with one felony count of battery constituting domestic violence-strangulation. He is also facing a misdemeanor charge of coercion, which is set for further proceedings in Henderson Municipal Court on Sept. 22.

Willis has denied to police that any altercation took place, according to an arrest report.

After the brief hearing this morning, Wolfson asked for patience with the case and said "not all of the facts have come out."

"The police did a preliminary investigation and that is what is the basis of the charges," Wolfson said. "We're doing our own investigation and I'm confident that when all the facts and the truth comes out, that Tre'Von will play basketball this year for UNLV, have a great year, perhaps be the leading scorer again and have a great future."

Police said a woman, identified as 28-year-old Skye Sanders, reported the alleged attack about 3 a.m. June 29 at the Wild Horse Apartments, 2338 N. Green Valley Parkway. Sanders reportedly told officers she and Willis had been in a dating relationship for more than a year.

Authorities said the two began arguing because Sanders was sending text messages to her friends instead of spending time with Willis. A physical altercation then took place, police said, during which Willis allegedly choked Sanders.

Upon his arrest, Willis made a voluntary statement to police that he had been at the apartment with Sanders and they had a verbal argument, not a physical altercation, authorities said.

On July 21, Willis pleaded not guilty to the misdemeanor charge of coercion in connection with the alleged incident.

Willis, a Fresno, Calif., native, was a first-team all-Mountain West performer last season after averaging 17.2 points, 3.9 rebounds and 3.5 assists for the Rebels.