Parent who assaulted Seattle youth hockey refs reaches deal to dismiss charges

Uriel Cortes Gonzalez, a 42-year-old parent, reached an agreement with Seattle prosecutors following his assault on two youth referees during a hockey game in February. Under the deal, he will pay $1,500 in restitution and complete 80 hours of community service, including an anger management course, to have his misdemeanor charges dismissed by 2027. Body camera footage captured Gonzalez explaining his actions to police, stating he intervened to protect his child from being punched. Witnesses confirmed that the referees were not provoking Gonzalez when he shoved them to the ground. The incident has highlighted ongoing concerns about the safety of sports officials, with a survey indicating that over half of officials fear for their safety.

In recent years, Washington has consistently rejected proposals to elevate the assault of referees to a felony. The lack of protective legislation contributes to officiating shortages in youth sports, impacting local programs. Advocates argue that stronger protections are necessary to ensure a safe environment for youth athletics.