Child Abuse Charges Dropped Against Former Fins WR Mark Duper
MIAMI (CBSMiami) – Prosecutors have dropped all charges against former Miami Dolphins wide receiver Mark Super Duper after he was arrested in March for allegedly punching and slamming a teenager to the floor.
Jacksonville authorities said the facts in the case did not warrant taking the case against the 54-year-old Duper to trial.
According to the arrest report, the boy was playing video games with the children of ex-football player Hugh Green when an argument started with Duper who allegedly "grabbed the teen and picked him up several times and slammed him to the ground causing him to lose consciousness."
Police said the initial fight lasted 10 minutes.
Duper told the teen to leave and he left, but came back to get his jacket. According to the police reprot, that's when both began fighting, with Duper allegedly throwing the teen on a bed and punching him in the face and head until he was unconscious again. Green stopped the fight, according to police.
Once the teen regained consciousness, he allegedly pushed his bicycle into Duper's car which angered the ex-Dolphin and Duper proceeded to punch the teen in the face again.
Then when the teen fell off his bike, Duper "grabbed him by the neck and started choking him."
Green helped the teen and Duper allegedly threatened to kill the teen. Duper said he was trying to defend himself.
Green said the teen was the person who approached Duper and that both physically attacked each other.
Last January, Duper revealed he was fighting renal cancer and had surgery to remove his right kidney. He played for the Dolphins from 1982-1992 and was one half of the dynamic pass catching duo with Mark Clayton.
Duper played in three Pro Bowls and is a member of the Dolphins' Ring of Honor.
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