Posted by Bud on September 30, 2010 at 22:11:46:
Jay Mariotti, Former Sun-Times Columnist Pleaded No Contest to Domestic Violence
Updated: Thursday, 30 Sep 2010, 3:57 PM CDT
Published : Thursday, 30 Sep 2010, 3:57 PM CDT
FOX Chicago News
Los Angeles - ESPN personality and sports columnist Jay Mariotti pleaded no contest Thursday to one count of misdemeanor domestic violence in connection with an altercation with his girlfriend, the Los Angeles Times reported.
In exchange for Mariotti's plea, the prosecutor dropped six more misdemeanor counts, including grand theft and false imprisonment, allowing Mariotti to avoid jail time.
Mariotti was sentenced to three years of probation and ordered to serve 40 hours of community labor, according to the Los Angeles city attorney's office.
He will also have to undergo a year-long domestic violence education course and stay away from the victim.
"Jay is very pleased to have this matter behind him and is anxious to get back to work," said Mariotti's attorney Nick Hanna.
"While we are confident he would have prevailed at trial, the process would have been long and expensive. Today's resolution -- a no-contest plea to a low-level misdemeanor with all of the other charges dismissed -- ends the matter once and for all."
Hanna said Mariotti's sentence is standard for such a case.
Police were called to the couple's Venice, Calif.-area apartment in the early morning hours of Aug. 21. Mariotti was accused of pushing the woman and leaving marks on her arm following a heated argument.
Mariotti was arrested on suspicion of felony domestic violence, but authorities said there was not enough evidence to bring a felony charge.
The 51-year-old Mariotti wrote for the Chicago Sun-Times for 17 years, resigning in 2008 to become a nationally syndicated columnist for AOL Fanhouse. He has frequently appeared on the ESPN talk show "Around the Horn."