Harry A. Sieben, Jr. Press

Vikings fan accused of assault after game

Published: October 27, 2000
Section: NEWS
Page#: 03B

By Jim Adams; Staff Writer

In an uncommon case of fan-on-fan violence, an Edina man appeared in court Thursday on charges that he punched and kicked another Vikings fan after the Tampa Bay Buccaneers game Oct. 9 at the Metrodome.

Jeffrey W. Lupient, 22, was charged with third-degree felony assault for injuries allegedly inflicted on John Robinson, 55, of Roseville. Robinson and his girlfriend sat in front of Lupient at the Tampa Bay game. Robinson complained to a security guard that Lupient's date was spilling beer on Robinson and others. Minneapolis and Hennepin County prosecutors said they don't recall any fan-on-fan assault cases at Metrodome sports events.

Lupient couldn't be reached Thursday and his attorney, Larry Rapoport, declined to comment. Robinson said he and his girlfriend, Kathy Bakkenist, 49, left the Vikings game early because Lupient had been threatening him after the security guard spoke to Lupient and his date. Robinson said they were walking to his car about 11 p.m. and had entered the sidewalk tunnel under the Hennepin County Government Center on 6th Street when Lupient appeared and began punching and kicking him. In the criminal complaint, Lupient is accused of also throwing Bakkenist against a concrete wall.

Robinson, owner of a Minneapolis packaging company, has hired attorney Harry Sieben to represent him. Robinson said he had surgery this week to repair six broken facial bones. He and Bakkenist have filed petitions in Hennepin County District Court seeking an order barring Lupient from contacting them or coming within 300 feet.

In a written statement, the Vikings said, "The police officer [working as a security guard] who investigated the incident received only one complaint about Mr. Lupient and made the determination that Mr. Lupient was cooperative, willing to conduct himself in an orderly manner... he was allowed to return to his seat."

Staff writer Margaret Zack contributed to this report.

Jim Adams can be contacted at jadams@startribune.com

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