Johnny Manziel’s Domestic Violence Charge Dismissed Via Agreement with Prosecutor

Johnny Manziel is barely 24 years old, but his name has been in the headlines for years. He won the Heisman Trophy at age 20 and was a first-round draft pick for the Browns in 2014, but was released a year later due in part to his numerous off-field run-ins with the law. His latest controversy has been a domestic violence charge brought against him by Texas prosecutors after he was accused of striking his girlfriend in public in January 2016. Manziel faced up to a year in prison for the misdemeanor charges and a $4,000 fine, but it appears that he will avoid these penalties and a conviction – at least for now – through an agreement with prosecutors to have the criminal charges dismissed on a conditional basis.

The Terms of Manziel’s Dismissal Agreement with Prosecutors

Under the terms of Manziel’s agreement with prosecutors, he will receive a “conditional dismissal” of the domestic violence charge, which means that prosecutors may pursue a conviction at a later time if he fails to fulfill the conditions of the agreement. Under the agreement, Manziel must do the following:

• Attend an anger management class
• Participate in a substance-abuse program (e.g. the NFL’s own program)
• Take part in an anti-domestic-violence program
• Avoid contact with the victim

Reaching a Civil Compromise on Criminal Charges in California

California state law allows defendants to have charges dismissed in a similar manner as to the one reached in Manziel’s Texas matter through “civil compromises.” In a misdemeanor case, a defendant may be able to enter into a civil compromise with the victim in which they compensate the victim for damages/losses or take some other kind of remedial effort. Such compromises can also be made in some felony cases when a prosecutor is willing to approve such an agreement. An experienced criminal defense attorney can guide you in reaching such a dismissal via a compromise to help avoid a criminal conviction and avoid penalties.

Experienced Criminal Defense in Orange County

If you are the subject of a criminal investigation or have been placed under arrest, contact Orange County criminal defense attorney Bart Kaspero today for a consultation to discuss how he can best protect your rights while defending your freedom in all criminal matters.