Philadelphia Judge Clears Path for Trial in Assault Case Involving Two South Jersey High School Football Players
A Philadelphia judge has ruled that an assault case involving two highly regarded South Jersey high school football players will move forward after a preliminary hearing held on Friday. While several charges were dismissed during the hearing, the court determined that prosecutors presented enough evidence for the remaining charges to proceed to trial.
The case involves Charles Foulke and Masiia Acrey, two football players who earned recognition for their performances on the field and made non-binding verbal commitments to Syracuse University earlier this year. According to court records, both players are facing felony charges of aggravated assault and conspiracy, along with misdemeanor charges that include simple assault, recklessly endangering another person, and harassment.
Charles Foulke is a standout quarterback from Voorhees Township and is expected to begin his senior season this fall at Glassboro High School, the defending New Jersey state football champion. Masiia Acrey, a cornerback from Sicklerville, previously played alongside Foulke at St. Joseph Prep in Philadelphia before continuing his football career elsewhere.
The two athletes were arrested in May along with Jalen Millevoix, a 2025 graduate of Eastern High School. The arrests stem from an incident that police say took place on April 12 in Philadelphia.
According to investigators, the three individuals were allegedly involved in an altercation with a man and a woman who were waiting for a rideshare vehicle. Following the investigation, authorities filed multiple criminal charges against the defendants.
During Friday’s preliminary hearing, the judge reviewed the available evidence and dismissed several charges. However, the court found that enough evidence remains for the case to continue through the criminal justice process. The ruling does not determine guilt or innocence but allows prosecutors to present the remaining charges at trial.
The case has attracted attention because of the players’ athletic achievements and future college football opportunities. Charles Foulke is preparing for his final high school football season, while both he and Acrey had previously announced verbal commitments to Syracuse. Those commitments are non-binding and do not guarantee future enrollment.
As the legal proceedings continue, the defendants remain entitled to the presumption of innocence unless proven guilty in court. Any final outcome will depend on the evidence presented during future court proceedings.
The court’s decision marks the next step in a case that combines criminal allegations with the public profiles of two well-known high school athletes. Further hearings and legal proceedings are expected as the matter moves toward trial.
Sources
- Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas
- Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System (UJS)
- Philadelphia Police Department
- Court charging documents and publicly available court records
