Johnny Manziel Booked in Domestic Violence Case

ByAVIANNE TAN ABCNews logo
Thursday, May 5, 2016

Former NFL quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel presented himself for booking before posting bond in Texas today, one day before his first scheduled court hearing in a domestic violence case.

A grand jury charged Manziel, 23, with family violence assault last week following allegations from an ex-girlfriend who accused Manziel of accosting her and then hitting her during an incident in January.

A mugshot of the former Cleveland Browns quarterback was released today by police in Highland Park, Texas, a wealthy Dallas enclave separate from the city of Dallas.

Manziel faces a Class A misdemeanor that carries up to a year in jail and a $4,000 fine.

Manziel's lead counsel, Jim Darnell, said in a statement after the indictment was announced: "We certainly respect the decision of the grand jury but of course they only hear part of the case: What the D.A. chooses to share with them. We don't know what that was. Johnny will certainly plead 'not guilty' and we believe the evidence will support that plea. Out of respect for Ms. [Colleen] Crowley, we will not try the case in the press. We do, however, believe that Johnny will be acquitted at the conclusion of the case."

He is expected to appear briefly before a Dallas judge on Thursday morning.

In 2012, while at Texas A&M, Manziel became the first freshman to win the Heisman Trophy. He later signed with the Cleveland Browns. The team released him in March 2016.

ABC News' Emily Shapiro and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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