Former Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel made his first court appearance on Thursday regarding a misdemeanor charge stemming from a domestic violence complaint by his ex-girlfriend Colleen Crowley. The judge then had Manziel sign an affidavit saying the same thing, and let him go. The potential punishments he could face are up to a year in jail, in worst case scenario or a maximum of $4,000 fine, according to The Washington Post. Jim Darnell, his lead counsel, stated after his indictment, “Johnny will certainly plead “not guilty” and we believe the evidence will support that plea”.
Advertisement
More skeptical observers just don’t see it, and it’s perfectly plausible that Manziel’s hands just happened to fold into a tangle of fingers resembling a behind-the-back-bird, with no malice or any purposeful digs behind it.
“I owe private apologies to a lot of people that I disappointed, but a very public one to the Browns organization and the fans that I let down”, Manziel said after leaving a rehab center in April 2015. When asked outside a courthouse elevator what his preferred outcome to the case is, attorney Robert Hinton said, “Everybody would kiss and make up”. If Manziel returns to the National Football League, he could face repercussions even if he is not convicted in court.
“Johnny has, over the last 24 hours, fulfilled all the current requirements of the court”.
2-6 was Manziel’s record as a starter in his two years with the Cleveland Browns. He has also been dropped by two agents because of his continued partying lifestyle.
“He’s doing great”, Hinton said. “We will worry about the future later as far as I’m concerned”. Crowley has sued Manziel claiming to struck her numerous times during a domestic altercation January 30.
Advertisement
She accused Manziel of hitting her so hard that she temporarily lost her hearing, court papers show.
