Johnny Manziel Indicted, Turns Himself in, Appears in Court

After being indicted on misdemeanor domestic assault charges last week, Johnny Manziel turned himself in to Highland Park police in Texas yesterday, posing for a mug shot and posting $1,500 bond before being released. The former Texas A&M Aggies and Cleveland Browns QB is scheduled to appear back in court this morning.

The charge stems from a January incident during which Manziel's then girlfriend Colleen Crowley claims he restrained, beat, and threatened to kill her.

Domestic Assault Charges

After a night out on the town in Dallas, Manziel allegedly forced Crowley into his car, hit her when she tried to escape, and told her, "Shut up or I'll kill us both." Crowley reported the incident, and filed an affidavit detailing the night when she was granted a restraining order against Manziel. The two allegedly reached an out-of-court civil settlement, but that doesn't mean the criminal justice system is done with Johnny Football.

The Dallas County District Attorney's office submitted a misdemeanor assault with bodily injury charge to a grand jury, and got an indictment last week. If convicted, Manziel could be looking at a year in jail. Texas's assault statute prohibits:

1. intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly causing bodily injury to another, including the person's spouse;
2. intentionally or knowingly threatening another with imminent bodily injury, including the person's spouse; or
3. intentionally or knowingly causing physical contact with another when the person knows or should reasonably believe that the other will regard the contact as offensive or provocative.

Appearance in Court

At his court hearing this morning, Judge Roberto Cañas ordered Manziel to have no further contact with Crowley, and barred him from the possession of firearms until his case is resolved. Those present at the hearing allege that Manziel gave news cameras the middle finger.

Manziel's recent behavior has cost him his spot on the Browns roster and two different agents in the past six months, and the criminal case could cost him more. He contends he never hit Crowley, and his attorney claims Manziel "looks forward to defending himself against the misdemeanor allegation and focusing on the next phases of his life, both personally and professionally."

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• QB Johnny Manziel Booked and Released (Courthouse News Service)
• Ex-Girlfriend: Johnny Manziel Restrained, Beat, Threatened to Kill Me (FindLaw's Tarnished Twenty)
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