RUTLAND, Vt. -
Two Castleton State College basketball players are in trouble after police say they beat up another student.
One of those players, Douglas Krouse, 21, of Reading, PA, pleaded not guilty Monday in a Rutland courtroom to aggravated and simple assault.
Police say last month, he and Christopher Barletta beat up a male student in the woods and broke his eye socket.
In court, the head coach however told the judge he was surprised the two were connect in this crime.
"Mr. Barletta, did he hang out with the defendant?" said the defense attorney.
"He did not," said Castleton basketball coach Paul Culpo.
"Were these two friends in anyway?" said the attorney.
"Well they're teammates but they were not off the court friends," said Culpo.
The coach told the judge Barletta has been removed from the team and school, but he says school leaders haven't figured out Krouse's fate yet.
If convicted, Krouse faces 16 years behind bars.
