COLFAX — It took jurors less than 10 minutes to find a former Del Oro football star guilty of misdemeanor battery Wednesday.

Ryne Gonzalez, 20, known in the football community as “Ryno,” was facing trial in connection with a 2005 incident.

Following less than two days of testimony, the five women and seven men of the jury concluded that in August 2005 Gonzalez walked into the Penryn home of Chad Cisneros, 26, and punched him once in the face before fleeing.

The guilty verdict might mean that Gonzalez’s football scholarship to San Jose State University could be in jeopardy.

Gonzalez took the stand in his own defense Wednesday morning in a Placer County courtroom.

On Aug. 10, 2005, Gonzalez allegedly walked into the home of Chad Cisneros through an unlocked door and punched the man in the face, officials said.

The spat was apparently over a woman who had been dating both men at the same time, said Robert Young, Gonzalez’s Auburn attorney. Young was unavailable for comment following the verdict Wednesday evening.

Gonzalez testified in a Colfax courtroom that he saw his then-girlfriend’s truck parked in front of Cisneros’ Penryn home and felt “crushed.”

“I walked in (an open door), saw them and asked what was going on,” Gonzalez said to the seven men and five women of the jury. “They were in bed.”

He said it was then that Cisneros turned on a bedroom light and stepped toward Gonzalez.

“(Cisneros) said he wanted to know what I was doing in his house,” Gonzalez said. “I punched him then ran.”

Gonzalez said he felt threatened by Cisneros and was in fear of being injured.

The case against the 20-year-old first-string linebacker for the San Jose State Spartans has been slow in getting to trial.

Gonzalez was originally charged with misdemeanor battery Jan. 11, 2006. However, Judge J. Richard Couzens lowered the more serious offense in favor of a disturbing the peace violation, saving the athlete’s football scholarship.

“In the interest of justice I am dismissing the charges that (the people) have filed on the basis that it’s a disproportionate penalty to the defendant. ” Couzens said, according to court transcripts.

Gonzalez, who is a 2005 Del Oro graduate and was a running back for the school, received a NCAA Division I football scholarship to San Jose State University.

“A misdemeanor or a felony charge would result in a loss of scholarship for a student athlete,” court documents read.

While at Del Oro, Gonzalez was a two-time 1,000-yard rusher and ran for 1,314 yards and 13 touchdowns as a senior. He was named the 2004 Sierra Foothill League’s offensive most valuable player.

The prosecution in the case took issue with Couzens stepping in where he did not have authority.

In court transcripts, dated Feb. 23, 2007, then-prosecutor Benjamin Eggert told the court that it does “not have authority to substitute itself as a representative of the people in the negotiation process.”

The case was sent to the appellate panel that ultimately sided with the prosecution, sending the case back to Placer County Superior Court, officials said.

The defense in the case contends that Gonzalez’s actions were in self-defense.

“The claim of self-defense is completely lacking and unfounded,” said Deputy District Attorney Steve Dragland following Wednesday’s verdict.

If found guilty Gonzalez faces a fine not to exceed $2,000 or a maximum of six months in jail or both.

Sentencing is scheduled for 3 p.m. June 19 in Department 6 of Placer County Superior Court.

The Journal’s Penne Usher can be reached at penneu@goldcountrymedia.com or post a comment on auburnjournal.com.