Defendant in UConn stabbing case gets probation

VERNON, Conn. (AP) - The first man arrested after the fight that left a University of Connecticut football player stabbed to death has been granted admission into a probation program that could clear his criminal record.

Johnny Hood of Hartford was ordered on June 29 to serve a year's probation in the state's Accelerated Rehabilitation program. That's according to the clerk's office at Rockville Superior Court.

Hood was charged with breach of peace and interfering with police after the October 2009 fight outside a school dance.

John Lomax III of Bloomfield pleaded guilty to stabbing football player Jasper Howard and is serving 18 years in prison for manslaughter.

Police say an argument between Hood and another football player over comments made to a woman led to the fight between two groups attending the dance.