CLEMSON — Sumter attorney Kenneth Young says his client, Abra Weeks, intends to continue pursuit of charges against Clemson defensive back DeAndre McDaniel because this wasn’t an isolated incident.

Mr. Young said from his Sumter office Thursday that this wasn’t the first time Mr. McDaniel struck Ms. Weeks.

“That was the second time and that broke the camel’s back,” Young said.

Mr. McDaniel, 20, was arrested June 21 on a misdemeanor charge of assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature following an argument with Ms. Weeks at his University Village apartment. Ms. Weeks (5-foot-1, 107 pounds) was treated at Oconee Memorial Hospital for a neck sprain as well as bruises to the chest and neck.

“This time the state will be represented,” Young said. “She is the victim.”

Ms. Weeks’ claim that Mr. McDaniel physically harmed her has gone under scrutiny the last few weeks after three alleged witnesses came to Mr. McDaniel’s defense, and then Ms. Weeks failed to show up last week for a judicial review board hearing at Clemson University.

Her absence played a role in the board’s decision not to take any action against Mr. McDaniel. He is in good standing with the school, and there are no restrictions on him concerning his academic and athletic career at Clemson.

Clemson coach Tommy Bowden announced earlier this week Mr. McDaniel will stay on with the team, while he monitors the legal process as it develops.

Young, however, said Ms. Weeks’ absence from last week’s hearing should not be viewed to mean that she is planning to dismiss the charges. According to Young, she was just doing what she was advised to do.

“I told her to do whatever the solicitor’s office told her to do,” he said. “Now, I don’t know what that is.”

Attempts to reach Chief Kerry Avery of the Central Police Department were unsuccessful. However, there are published reports saying Avery could not confirm if anyone in his department asked her not to show up.

Young has instructed Ms. Weeks, 19, to try and get her life back to normal as much as she can. She is currently enrolled at Clemson and attending summer classes.

“She is filing back in and is doing fine,” Young said.

Young, who will only represent Ms. Weeks as a personal confidant during the criminal trial if there is one, has seen a couple of the alleged witnesses statements, and understands that they are friends of Mr. McDaniel.

“That’s why you have the courts,” Young said. “That evidence will be tried. The truth will come out.”

It could take a year to 18 months for that to happen. The 13th Circuit Solicitor’s Office is handling the case and currently they are dealing with a backlog of cases.