ESPN College Football

MANHATTAN, Kan. -- Kansas State running back Thomas Clayton was charged Tuesday with misdemeanor battery, stemming from an incident with a university parking services employee.

Riley County Attorney Barry Wilkerson declined to comment on what led him to charge Clayton with a misdemeanor rather than a felony count of aggravated battery.

"The guilt or innocence of Mr. Clayton will be determined in the courtroom," Wilkerson said, "and my office will have no further comment on this case until that time."

Kansas State coach Bill Snyder's weekly news conference was set for later Tuesday.

Clayton, a junior from Alexandria, Va., was arrested Sept. 16 on a complaint of aggravated battery. Parking services officials said the running back nearly hit employee James A. Seymour while trying to avoid having his vehicle immobilized for parking violations.

He was arrested a short time later and was released on $1,000 bond. According to the public portion of the police report, Seymour, 44, of Manhattan, was not injured.

"There have been many rumors and some false information being circulated regarding this incident," Wilkerson said. "We carefully reviewed the available evidence and made our decision in light of the Kansas statutes and the interpretive decisions of the Kansas appellate courts."

Clayton started Kansas State's first two games, rushing for a school-record 329 yards, but was held out of last Saturday's 54-7 victory over North Texas.

Snyder said Monday that Clayton would play this Saturday against Oklahoma, but did not say whether he would start.

Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press

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