Turner, Hubbard plead ‘not guilty’

BANGOR – Two former University of Maine basketball players pleaded not guilty Thursday to charges stemming from an altercation at an Orono nightclub last month.

Rashard Turner, 23, and his girlfriend Danielle Hubbard, 21, were both released at 3rd District Court in Bangor Thursday afternoon on unsecured bails. A trial date for the couple is set for Nov. 28.

Turner, the former starting point guard with the Black Bears, is alleged to have violently grabbed Hubbard, a junior guard on the UMaine women’s basketball team. Turner also allegedly threatened and assaulted an Ushuaia employee during a Sept. 3 incident at the Orono nightclub.

Hubbard is charged with assaulting an Orono police officer who went to investigate the early morning incident.

Prior to the incident Turner, of Peekskill, N.Y., reportedly had decided to transfer from the University of Maine. Court documents describe him as indigent and therefore eligible for a court-appointed attorney. Turner is living out of state, Assistant District Attorney Jim Diehl, of the Penobscot County District Attorney’s office, said Thursday.

Hubbard has been suspended from the Black Bear women’s basketball team pending the outcome of the court case.

On Thursday, Turner requested and was granted an amended bail condition that would allow him to see his girlfriend. Previously, bail conditions prohibited Turner from having contact with Hubbard.

Turner started 27 of the team’s 28 games last season, averaging 10.8 points, 3.0 assists and 2.6 rebounds per game. He was the team’s second-leading scorer and averaged the second-most minutes at 32.6 per game.