Former Bear Desmond Clark, wife plead not guilty to disorderly conduct charges
A former Chicago Bear and his wife have pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor counts of disorderly conduct in Lake County court, authorities said.
Desmond Clark, 38, and Maria Clark, 33, are due back in misdemeanor court Oct. 26 for additional pretrial hearings, said Cynthia Vargas, communications manager for the Lake County State's Attorney's Office.
The Clarks were not scheduled to appear in court until Oct. 5, Vargas said, but their defense attorney pushed up the arraignment to Sept. 28.
The couple is accused of cursing and using racially charged language in a heated confrontation with teachers at Vernon Hills High School on Aug. 29, authorities said.
The dispute left one school employee "shocked and terrified," according to a police report the Daily Herald acquired through the Freedom of Information Act.
The police report detailing the confrontation said Desmond and Maria Clark yelled at a school employee. Desmond Clark also cursed and repeatedly used a racial epithet and yelled about racial discrimination, it stated.
Clark's attorney, Frank Avila, previously said the couple is being unfairly prosecuted after complaining about racial taunts aimed at their 17-year-old son, a student at Vernon Hills High. Avila called the charges "frivolous, absurd and wrongful," and said they should be dropped.
The confrontation was prompted by an administrative decision to not allow the Clarks' son to participate in a talent show due to a prior school code violation, authorities said.
The dispute was witnessed by several people and captured on video, according to the police report.
The Clarks, who live in Vernon Hills, were arrested on warrants Sept. 11. Desmond and Maria Clark were charged with misdemeanor disorderly conduct. Maria Clark also was charged with misdemeanor assault.
Since the arrest, the Clarks have led a peaceful protest march from the Vernon Hill Police Department to the high school, and addressed the Libertyville-Vernon Hills Area High School District 128 school board regarding diversity programming.