Johnny Manziel’s Lawyer Says Assault Indictment Expected Tuesday

Johnny Manziel is expected to be indicted Tuesday on a misdemeanor assault charge after allegations surfaced that he attacked his ex-girlfriend in January, an attorney for the troubled former Cleveland Browns quarterback stated on Monday.

Johnny Manziel’s Lawyer Says Assault Indictment Expected Tuesday

Robert Hinton told the Associated Press that prosecutors have notified him they expect a Dallas grand jury to sign off on the assault charge for family violence for the former QB. The Class A misdemeanor carries up to one year in jail and a $4,000 fine.

Hinton, a longtime Dallas defense attorney with ties to the district attorney’s office, stated he expected a judge to set a bond soon after Tuesday’s formal indictment and that Manziel, 23, would then present himself for booking. He also stated that no discussions about reaching a deal to end the case before reaching trial have yet taken place.

Local prosecutors announced just last week that they had presented a misdemeanor assault case against Manziel.

An indictment would further endanger the former QB’s chances of playing pro football. After being released from the Browns, Manziel was also dropped by two agents and lost endorsements from big brands like Nike.

His indictment comes after allegations made by his ex-girlfriend, Colleen Crowley, who claims Manziel accosted her at a hotel in Dallas back in January and later hit her when they drove back to her apartment in Fort Worth. Crowley was granted a protective order, which forces Manziel to not see her for two years, remain at least 500 feet from her home, and pay up to $12,000 in legal fees.

In the detailed affidavit, Crowley alleged that Manziel forced her into a car parked by the hotel following their confrontation in one of the rooms, and that a valet from the valet station ignored her pleas for help. She then stated that Manziel got into the driver’s seat and began to drive. She then claimed Manziel stopped when she attempted to jump out of the car, but then pulled her back inside and hit her.

Crowley also added in the affidavit that Manziel threatened to kill himself as he drove her back to her apartment in Fort Worth, about 30 miles west of Dallas, where police were then called.

Manziel’s father stated that following the allegations, the family had made two recent, unsuccessful attempts to place him in a rehab clinic. Manziel, a first-round draft pick in 2014 out of Texas A&M who is nicknamed ‘Johnny Football’, quickly gained a reputation in the NFL as a partier and a drinker. He spent 43 days last winter in a Pennsylvania treatment facility specializing in care for alcohol and drug dependency.

Manziel’s attorneys and prosecutors could potentially reach a deal to avoid a trial that could include an agreement that the QB seek anger management or domestic battery counseling. Lawyers observing the case have also stated Manziel could undergo some form of substance abuse rehab.

CLEVELAND, OH – NOVEMBER 30: Johnny Manziel #2 of the Cleveland Browns warms up prior to the game against the Baltimore Ravens at FirstEnergy Stadium on November 30, 2015 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)