VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) — A Navy chief will spend time in jail for assaulting a teenager during a recent soccer tournament at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront.
Jordan Grinnell, 38, punched a 14-year-old several times back in June at the North American Sand Soccer Championships.
His son and a 14-year-old on another team from Richmond got into it during game, and began to shove one another.
That’s when Grinnell ran up to the 14-year-old and punched him. The teen fell back on the sand and Grinnell leaned over him and threw three more punches.
The 14-year-old suffered a cut above his eye. He still had a scar and puffiness below his eye four months later.
Grinnell is a chief in the Navy. His attorney told the court that he felt that his son was threatened and just wanted to protect him.
“I’d like to apologize to the court and to his family,” Grinnell told the judge. “I’m here to answer for what I did. Please have some mercy on me.”
The 14-year-old’s mother testified that her son refuses to wear his contacts, because he feels self conscious about the scar. She says he hasn’t been able to play a game since without looking over his shoulder.
“This is a case where it shouldn’t have happened,” said Judge Deborah Bryan. “Children should be able to play a game without worrying about anything but the game.”
Bryan went on to say that parents are there to keep all the kids safe. She then found Grinnell guilty of the crime.
He will serve 60 days in jail and can do so on weekends.
Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly listed Grinnell as a naval officer. He is a Navy chief.