Posted by Bud on September 12, 2010 at 22:57:53:
L.A. County district attorney drops felony criminal charges against ESPN's Jay Mariotti
September 8, 2010
BY DAN CAHILL | Staff Reporter
The Los Angeles County district attorney's office did not pursue felony criminal charges on Tuesday against ESPN sports personality Jay Mariotti, who was arrested last month on suspicion of domestic assault against his girlfriend.
"We reviewed the case for filing consideration and determined based on the evidence it was consistent with misdemeanor charges," said Shiara Davila-Morales, a spokesperson for the district attorney's office. The case was then referred to the Los Angeles city attorney, who could still pursue misdemeanor charges against Mariotti.
The former Sun-Times columnist was arrested at an apartment near Venice, Calif. the morning of Aug. 21 and released later after posting $50,000 bail.
Mariotti, 51, got into an argument with his girlfriend at a Santa Monica club because she allegedly had been flirting with another man, police told the Los Angeles Times. The fight allegedly continued at the apartment.
Mariotti is a regular guest on ESPN's "Around the Horn" and writes a column for AOL's Fanhouse.com.