A 48-year-old Minneapolis man is facing two assault charges stemming from an alleged altercation at a Burnsville basketball game that left a youth sports commissioner with cracked molars.

Robin Johnson made his first court appearance on the charges March 12. He is being charged with one count each of first- and third-degree assault, both felonies, and other counts of interfering with a 911 call and disorderly conduct. He was arrested Feb. 13, but was later released pending further investigation.

The most serious charge Johnson faces is the first-degree assault charge, which carries with it up to 20 years incarceration and a $30,000 fine.

A criminal complaint issued March 12 by the Dakota County Attorney's Office provides the following account and allegations:

Burnsville police officers responded to call about a fight in progress at Burnsville High School shortly before 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 13. Upon arrival, officers learned from witnesses that the director of the Burnsville Athletic Center had been struck and injured by a man attending a basketball game. The man, identified as Johnson, was arrested and removed from the scene.

The commissioner, identified on the BAC website as Jeff Shand of Burnsville, told police that Johnson was one of two men who came up after a basketball game complaining about the referees. Shand asked them to leave or he would call the police. One of the males responded by knocking Shand's cell phone out of his hand. Shand told officers that the next thing he remembered after that was regaining consciousness on the gym floor.

Officers interviewed another individual (identified in the complaint only as "Victim #2") who said that Johnson punched Shand, and then punched him when he tried to separate the two. Victim #2 kicked Johnson in the groin and tackled him, and was helped by unknown adults in restraining Johnson.

A witness who saw Johnson in the stand later saw him walk on to the court and yell "You guys are cheaters" in Shand's face. The same witness also saw another man throw a basketball at Shand's head when he bent down to pick up the cell phone. Attorney's Office spokesperson Monica Jensen said this person, who was not identified in the complaint, is not facing charges relating to the incident.

When interviewed by police, Johnson said he was at the game and that he argued with the coach, but said he'd hit Shand because Shand had tripped him. Johnson claimed not to know what happed after Shand was hit, because everyone was on top of him. He later claimed that the person he was arguing with had kicked him in the groin, and that he'd thrown the punch in response.

Shand was taken to the Fairview Ridges Emergency Room, where it was determined that his jaw was not broken. When an oral surgeon treated him, the surgeon found that three of Shand's molars were cracked, one of which was shattered.

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