DALLAS (1080 KRLD) - A University of Texas swim team member has pleaded guilty to getting high on drugs and terrorizing two Austin residents a year and a half ago.
UT swimmer Ryan Harty loaded up on LSD on August 6, 2017, put on nothing but swim trunks and broke into two homes. He was arrested by Austin police.
Harty pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor of criminal trespass. A judge sentenced him to 14 months of court supervision and court-ordered drug counseling. His attorney says that fit the misdemeanor nature of the crime and that Harty is not getting preferential treatment because of his status as a swim team member."He's a great kid," said Bruce Fox. "This is as much of a one-off as any case I can remember in almost 40-years or practice."
But the break-in has scarred victim Karen Kennard, who was in her living room when Harty broke in. Her brother Cory Session of Fort Worth says Harty towered over Kennard and screamed that she "knew what he was there for." Session says his sister took that as a threat that she would be raped and ran out the back door. Session doesn't disagree with the sentence. He thinks probation is appropriate. However, he is wondering why Harty is still allowed to compete.
"We want him to take responsibility for what he did. And we also want the University to take responsibility for what one of their athletes did. Apparently a star athlete on a national level."
The NCAA says Harty competed as recently as last week getting 5th in the men's championships. In a statement, the University of Texas says "We just became aware of the situation involving our swimmer Ryan Harty with news of his Wednesday court case. Now that we have been informed, we are gathering facts, reviewing the situation and determining any action that will be taken."
