www.jobs.roanoke.com

Koby Clemens and Mark Ori will not have to stand trial for charges of disorderly conduct in Salem after all.

The two former Salem Avalanche players had the charges dropped after performing a day-long series of talks to area kids about drugs, alcohol and peer pressure, according to a news release from Salem Commonwealth’s Attorney Tom Bowers.

Clemens and Ori were arrested and a third member of the Avalanche minor league baseball team, Jimmy Goethals, was later charged with misdemeanor assault, after an altercation at the popular Mack and Bob’s Restaurant in Salem at 2 a.m. on Aug. 31.

All three were scheduled to face trial on Dec. 2. Goethals’ case remains on the docket.

Salem communications director Mike Stevens said that the punishment for disorderly conduct is often community service and Clemens and Ori made the trip to Salem on their own.

Clemens, son of seven-time Cy Young winner Roger Clemens, and Ori spoke at Fellowship of Christian Athletes breakfast at Salem High School, three classes of ninth and 10th graders at Glenvar High School, Gus Mitchell School at HopeTree Family Services and the Winter Sports Pledge Meeting at Salem High School on Thursday, according to the news release.

Friday morning, Bowers “nolle prossed and discontinued the prosecution” of the charges against Clemens and Ori in front of District Court Judge Jacqueline Talevi.

“The Salem Commonwealth’s Attorney believes the advice and insight provided by Ori and Clemens to the high school students of Salem and Glenvar is a valuable return of service to the community where their actions took place,” the news release said.

Goethals’ case could not be treated in the same way, because of the nature of the charge and because he was not as he was not arrested at the scene but charged later after a citizen, Jordan Parkinson, according to court records, swore out a complaint.

-- katrina waugh