Former University of Arizona track and field assistant coach Craig Carter pleaded guilty to charges of stalking and harassment and was sentenced to three years in prison according to Tucson News Now.
Carter stood accused of stalking, harassing and threatening a female athlete whom he had coached while at Arizona. The guilty plea and sentence comes after Carter had been found guilty earlier this year of aggravated assault and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in a jury trial. Sentencing for that verdict is set for May 14.
The victim, former Arizona shot putter Baillie Gibson, claimed that she had been coerced into a relationship with Carter with blackmail and threats, while Carter himself claimed the relationship had been consensual.
An ESPN report details the abusive relationship, which unfolded over a period of more than two years. Gibson alleges that Carter’s blackmail kicked off the relationship, which ended when Gibson decided to transfer in April of 2015. It was after sharing her decision to leave that Carter allegedly assaulted Gibson and threatened her with a box cutter.
In the following days, Carter allegedly stalked and harassed Gibson, following her to class and issuing threats.
Gibson filed a report to police, and Carter was arrested that same day. He resigned from the university weeks later.
