More than three months ago, a Broward County judge issued an arrest warrant against a 21-year-old Florida International University football team running back. He played for an entire season before being picked up on that warrant by the Broward County Sheriff’s Office. He started at his position in five of those games.
The probable cause affidavit for the arrest warrant alleges that the student athlete had a discussion with a former girlfriend about a man she was dating a month after her breakup with him. The discussion allegedly got physical when the young man pushed her and choked her with his right hand. The woman stated that she struggled to speak or breath. After releasing the woman, she was ordered her to leave. That’s when he allegedly said “If you don’t leave, I’m going to break your jaw.” The warrant was issued on August 24, 2018. The running back is charged with domestic battery by strangulation after a mark was found on the woman’s throat.
As per Florida Statutes section 784.041(2)(a), “A person commits domestic battery by strangulation if the person knowingly and intentionally, against the will of another, impedes the normal breathing or circulation of the blood of a family or household member or a person with whom he or she is in a dating relationship so as to create a risk of or cause great bodily harm by applying pressure on the throat or the neck of the other person or by blocking the nose or mouth of the other person.” Domestic battery by strangulation in Florida is a third degree felony that is punishable by up to five years in prison, a fine of up to $5,000, as much as five years of probation and mandatory successful completion of a 29 week long intervention program.
Kenneth Hassett is a Fort Lauderdale criminal defense lawyer. He advises that there are numerous defenses to the charge of domestic battery by strangulation. Those might include self defense or the defense of somebody else, any injuries to the alleged victim were not caused by you, any injuries suffered by the alleged victim were the result of an accident or that the allegations just aren’t true.
If you have been charged with any type of a domestic violence crime, don’t give a statement or confession of any kind. Exercise your right to remain silent and your right to an attorney, and contact Fort Lauderdale domestic violence lawyer Kenneth Hassett right away at 954-791-3939.
