A judge believes a Western Albemarle High School girls soccer player's claim that she was bitten by a Fluvanna County opponent during a game.
Monday Albemarle County Judge Richard E. Moore found 18-year-old Katrina Ditta guilty of misdemeanor assault after a daylong trial.
The assault stems from a district semifinal game on May 23, during which the victim says Ditta bit her in the arm.
Coaches, referees, and school administrators testified in court Monday. None of the witnesses saw the biting incident, and no foul was called during the game.
The victim testified she did not report the foul for fear of retaliation. Ditta told the judge she never bit the victim.
The victim's father says he took photos of the wound two days after the game. Those pictures, depicting a bruise, were shown in court.
The judge said there's no reason to suspect the victim was lying and found Ditta guilty, but she won't spend any time in jail, the 90-day sentence was suspended.
Ditta's attorney plans to appeal.
