Dodgers’ Julio Urias won’t face charges in domestic battery case
Los Angeles city prosecutors will not file misdemeanor charges against Dodgers pitcher Julio Urias related to a domestic violence arrest May 13 at the Beverly Center, the L.A. City Attorney announced Monday.
The city prosecutor instead slated Urias, 22, for a city attorney hearing where he will be told that no action will be taken in connection with the report as long he is not arrested again for violent criminal behavior for the next year — the statute of limitations on the allegation.
According to people with knowledge of the investigation, witnesses told police that Urias shoved the woman he was with, but she told investigators she fell in the parking lot as they argued.
Major League Baseball’s investigation remains ongoing, according to a person with knowledge of the situation.
The city attorney in an official statement announced it would “defer prosecution of Mr. Urias on the following conditions “(1) that Mr. Urias participate in a City Attorney hearing; (2) that he commit no acts of violence against anyone; and 3) that he successfully participate in and complete a 52 week domestic violence counseling program in person, and in a group setting.”
“The domestic violence counseling will consist of weekly two hour sessions where, among other things, he must accept responsibility for the abusive behavior perpetrated against the victim, demonstrate an understanding that the use of coercion or violent behavior to maintain dominance is unacceptable in an intimate relationship and he must demonstrate an understanding of and practices positive conflict resolution skills.”
“We are deferring prosecution at this time because: 1) this incident did not result in any physical injury; 2) the victim at no point indicated to either the uniformed police officers or to civilian witnesses that she believed she was a victim; and 3) Mr. Urias has no record of prior criminal conduct.”
Major League Baseball placed Urias on paid administrative the day after his arrest. The commissioner’s office reinstated him seven days later — the maximum stint before the league must request an extension — in coordination with the Major League Baseball Players’ Assn.
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The Dodgers were required to place Urias on their active major league roster, as outlined in the collective bargaining agreement, and he rejoined the club in Tampa Bay on May 21. The left-hander pitched for the first time since his arrest four days later against the Pirates in Pittsburgh and logged two scoreless innings in the initial outing. Urias, however, struggled in his first two appearances at Dodger Stadium since the incident, allowing four runs and three homers in three innings.
Twitter: @jorgecastillo
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