Preliminary hearing date set for Charley Gargano

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- A Milwaukee County judge found there was probable cause on Friday, September 20th to hold 20-year-old Charley Gargano for further proceedings. Gargano is the Marquette University lacrosse player accused of dropping acid and punching a female public safety officer.

Gargano is charged with substantial battery. The court scheduled his preliminary hearing for Monday, September 30th.

In court Friday, Gargano had visible injuries on his knuckles and wrist. The judge released him on $1,000 cash bond and ordered Gargano not to have contact with the public safety officer in this case.

Prosecutors believe Gargano took multiple hits of LSD at the Rave on Saturday. Then back on campus, he allegedly punched the safety officer in the face twice. Her injuries included a broken orbital bone and a nasal fracture. She also needed eight stitches above her eye.

Gargano's alleged drug of choice comes as a shock to workers at Impact, a drug and alcohol recourse center in Milwaukee. Impact's Senior Vice President John Hyatt says only one percent of the thousands of drug cases his organization handles involve LSD.

"Even as we dig a little bit and say, what else have you done, it doesn’t get referenced that often," said Hyatt.

Hyatt says LSD has a powerful high, often lasting for 12 hours or more, with intense visual hallucinations that can often leave a person agitated and combative.

"People are standing and admiring a wonderful sunset without knowing they are standing in the middle of traffic," said Hyatt.

Gargano allegedly told investigators he had no recollection of the night.

If convicted, Gargano faces up to three-and-a-half years in prison and $10,000 in fines. Gargano will not be allowed to return to the Marquette lacrosse team, pending a student conduct review.

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