Mets closer Jeurys Familia pleads not guilty to domestic violence charge
The Mets closer was arrested last week for alleged domestic violence.
Today, Jeurys Familia pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Familia appeared this morning in Fort Lee, New Jersey, Municipal Court with his attorney Paul Brickfield and an interpreter. In the complaint filed in the Municipal Court, Fort Lee police reported that Familia “caused bodily injury to another” – specifically referring to a bruise to the chest and a scratch to the right cheek. The victim was his wife, Bianca.
This was Familia’s first appearance in court since the October 31st complaint.
In court today, Judge John DeSheplo lifted the court order that didn’t allow contact between Familia and his wife. This was at Bianca’s request. Additionally, the two sat in court next to each other. Familia was also photographed leaving New Jersey court with his wife, and the two were said to be holding hands.
According to the presiding judge at today’s hearing, the maximum penalty that the Mets closer could face is six months in jail, a $1,000 fine and two years of probation.
Familia is currently free on $1,500 bail. He’s due to be back in court in a little over a month, on December 15th.
The Mets still control Familia’s contract rights. Last year he made $4.1 million.
The Mets are still said to be monitoring the situation, and yesterday Sandy Alderson said that the team is disappointed, but it’s too early to know what the incident entailed and how it might impact the team.
Domestic abuse is no joke at all. If this turns out to be true, this is absolutely horrific – and hypocritical. Familia recently appeared in an anti-domestic violence ad campaign. That’s right, he had been an advocate against domestic violence, taking part in City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito’s #NotAFan campaign. In the PSA, Familia, in Spanish, said “I am not a fan” of domestic violence.
The Familia ads were obviously removed from the campaign after this news broke.
Familia, I truly hope you really are not guilty.
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