Aggravated Assault Charges Against HS Hoops Coach Dropped

Prosecutors with the Knox County District Attorney General's office have dropped an aggravated assault charge against Catholic High School assistant basketball coach Lucas Branch.

Branch - a 24-year-old Catholic High graduate who played basketball for the Fighting Irish from 2007-11 - was arrested April 25 after he allegedly pulled a knife and headbutted a man during an argument over his girlfriend, records show.

Sean McDermott, a spokesman for the DA's office, said in an email that the office "received information that the victim was stalking (Branch's girlfriend) and lied to the ADA (assistant district attorney) about some issues.

"With the credibility of the victim at issue, we decided to nolle the case," McDermott concluded, using a term to say the office opted not to prosecute.

Catholic athletic director Jason Surlas told the USA TODAY NETWORK-Tennessee on Friday that no decision has been made on whether Branch will return as an assistant coach next season.

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