Crime & Justice
Domestic violence charges against Ray Rice dismissed
After completing a pre-trial invention program, the charges against Ray Rice have been dismissed.
Domestic violence charges against Ray Rice were dismissed by a judge Thursday, marking the completion of the pretrial intervention program required after he was caught on video knocking his then-fiancée unconscious in a casino hotel elevator, reports the Baltimore Sun.
Charges Against Ray Rice Dismissed
The charges against the former Baltimore Raven, which stemmed from a physical altercation in February 2014 with his now-wife, Janay, in an Atlantic City casino elevator, were dismissed in New Jersey court by Judge Michael A. Donio.
When a graphic video of the incident surfaced in September, Rice’s $35 million contract was terminated and he was indefinitely suspended by the NFL. That suspension was lifted after an appeal heard by former federal judge Barbara S. Jones.
Rice avoided jail time in the case when he was accepted into the pretrial intervention program as a first-time offender.
Rice told The Baltimore Sun in February that his legal obligations were being fulfilled.
“I’m actually done in my case,” Rice said. “Really, I just have to call the state of New Jersey once a month. After May 19, I’m done. It will be a full year. It will be like a refreshing start. That’s the only little burden that I have. I have until May 19. I don’t have anything to do but call and confirm some things with them that I’m not getting into any trouble. It’s a real basic phone call and they give me another date for the next month.
“This year has gone by really fast. It’s been a year since the incident. Once May comes, I’ll be moving into my new house and I’ll sort of feel like a free man by then. You’re back to a fresh slate. One thing I learned is to be patient and stay ready.”