COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – A softball player caught on video punching an umpire at Berliner Park nearly 20 months ago was sentenced Monday in court.
According to court records, 40-year-old Gregory Roudabush, charged with assault and disorderly conduct, pleaded guilty in October for attacking an umpire on April 19, 2023, at Berliner Park during an adult-league softball game.
Roudabush was charged four weeks later, though he wasn’t arrested for another 12 months. He pleaded not guilty in Franklin County Municipal Court. A judge issued him a $25,000 bond and granted a temporary protection order for the victim.
A change of plea was accepted in October, and a judge sentenced Roudabush to 30 days in jail, beginning Jan. 3, plus three years of probation.
The umpire, Wiley Butler, came forward publicly shortly after the incident and explained what happened during the assault, which was captured on video, and said they intended to press charges.
Butler told NBC4 that he asked Roudabush to move over a bit and explained why. The player then became verbally abusive. After putting up with some of that behavior, Butler said he threw Roudabush out, which is when he got punched.
That game in April 2023 is the last Butler umpired.
“I love softball, I really do, but that part of the game is gone, it's pretty much dead for me," he said. "Some of the love of the game has left because of being around it but I respect umpires a lot more now knowing what I’ve been through as well."
Butler said while he is no longer calling games, he does still play with friends 50 and older.
"I try to be around senior ball now, where they are older and they’re chilling. These guys are young, it’s a little too hot-headed for me," he said. "Just go have fun, the umpires are human, we all are human, in my case I didn't make a mistake, but they are human, so I would encourage people to play, it's a kids' game, and it's a great environment if you’re around the right people.”
During Monday's sentencing, Roudabush addressed the court and apologized to Butler. He said he was sorry for what he did and anything else this incident caused.
"Also, I apologize for the love for the game that he lost. I apologize for that. I’m working on myself, and I really am deeply sorry. My temper got to me, and that's all I can say. I'm trying to work on it," Roudabush said in court
Roudabush, who received a lifetime ban from future leagues, was arrested in May, though it is not the first time Roudabush has faced criminal charges.
In 2004, he pleaded guilty to criminal mischief and served 60 days in jail. Charges of domestic violence and assault were dismissed as part of the plea agreement.
In 2014, he was charged with felonious assault, abduction, and two counts of domestic violence. Those charges were dismissed in common pleas court when the victim refused to cooperate, six months into court proceedings.
More recently, in 2017, Roudabush pleaded guilty to receiving stolen property and was sentenced to six months in prison.
