Florida State University kicker Conor McAneney was arrested and charged with battery on a law enforcement officer and resisting an officer with violence following a March 2024 incident in Tallahassee. Police body camera footage released by the Tallahassee Police Department shows the physical altercation occurred during a spring break encounter, leading to McAneney’s booking into the Leon County Detention Facility.
Details of the March 2024 Arrest
According to official reports from the Tallahassee Police Department, officers responded to a disturbance involving McAneney in the early hours of March 10, 2024. The incident took place in a popular downtown nightlife area. Police records indicate that the situation escalated when officers attempted to intervene in a dispute.
The body camera footage depicts a physical struggle between the athlete and responding officers. Authorities allege that McAneney struck an officer during the apprehension process. He was subsequently taken into custody and charged with two felonies: battery on a law enforcement officer and resisting an officer with violence.
University Response and Status
Florida State University officials have not publicly detailed specific disciplinary actions taken against the kicker following his arrest. The school maintains a student-athlete code of conduct that typically triggers internal reviews for any criminal charges involving physical altercations.
McAneney, who joined the Seminoles as a walk-on, remains subject to the legal proceedings in Leon County. University policy generally restricts athletic department staff from commenting on active criminal cases involving students, citing the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).
Legal Precedents for Student-Athletes
The charges faced by McAneney carry significant potential penalties under Florida law. Battery on a law enforcement officer is a third-degree felony in Florida, punishable by up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine. Resisting an officer with violence is also a third-degree felony.
In previous instances involving high-profile college athletes in Florida, legal outcomes have varied based on plea agreements or pretrial diversion programs. Unlike standard misdemeanors, charges involving violence against law enforcement officers are rarely dismissed without rigorous scrutiny from the State Attorney’s Office.
Key Facts Regarding the Incident
- Defendant: Conor McAneney, Florida State University football player.
- Charges: Battery on a law enforcement officer; resisting an officer with violence.
- Incident Date: March 10, 2024.
- Evidence: Tallahassee Police Department body camera footage.
- Jurisdiction: Leon County, Florida.
What Happens Next
The case is currently moving through the Leon County court system. McAneney is expected to face a preliminary hearing to determine the status of the charges filed by the state. Future developments will depend on whether the State Attorney’s Office moves forward with formal information or if the defense seeks a resolution through a deferred prosecution agreement. As of the latest court filings, no trial date has been set.