Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Julio Urías was charged with felony domestic violence late Sunday night, September 3, 2023.
According to the New York Post, Urías was taken into custody around 11 p.m. Sunday and was booked at 1 a.m. Monday. He was released on $50,000 bond at around 5 a.m. Monday.
The Dodgers player has a court date scheduled for September 27, which will be during the last week of Major League Baseball’s regular season and soon before the Dodgers play in the postseason.
In a statement issued by the Dodgers on X, formerly Twitter, the team’s management said, “We are aware of an incident involving Julio Urías. While we attempt to learn all the facts, he will not be traveling with the team. The organization has no further comment at this time.”
It is supposed that Urías was placed on administrative leave by the Dodgers, which means he will not play or travel with the team but will still receive his salary and accumulated service time.
Pitcher had an earlier domestic violence allegation
Major League Baseball is expected to investigate the latest incident, which follows another allegation of domestic violence involving the pitcher.
That was an incident in May of 2019, when the Dodgers player was accused of pushing a woman who was accompanying him at a mall. Though he was arrested on suspicion of domestic battery, Urías was not charged after the alleged victim claimed to investigators that she fell but was not pushed.
Even so, according to KTLA News, Urías was placed on administrative leave by Major League Baseball while it conducted an investigation.
Despite having no charge against him, ultimately, he was suspended for 20 games by MLB under its Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Policy. That occurred in August of 2019.
ESPN reports that no player has been suspended twice by MLB for violating that policy since it was established in 2015.
The Dodgers, as a team, also have the option of suspending a player before MLB does so.
In July, New York Yankees relief pitcher Jimmy Cordero was suspended for the remainder of the 2023 season for violating MLB’s Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Policy. In 2019, Yankees starting pitcher Domingo Germán received an 81-game suspension—which carried over to the 2020 season—concerning a domestic violence incident.
Why Do People Falsely Report Domestic Violence?
False allegations of domestic assault and family violence aren’t common, but they do happen. Here’s why.
Latest alleged Urías violence occurred at a soccer game
As for the latest Urías incident, the Dodgers pitcher reportedly was arrested on suspicion of felony domestic violence by the Los Angeles Police Department during a patrol of BMO Stadium.
That’s where Major League Soccer team LAFC was hosting Inter Miami, featuring newly acquired global soccer superstar Lionel Messi. Urías reportedly was on a list of notable guests for the high-profile soccer game Sunday night.
No further details of the alleged incident of domestic violence have been released.
Urías, 27, has played for the Dodgers for his entire career. Last year, he had the best earned run average in the National League with an ERA of 2.16 runs per 9 innings pitched, and he placed third in voting for the Cy Young Award as the league’s best pitcher.
However, this year, his performance has been less effective, with a 4.60 ERA and a record of 11 wins and 8 losses for a team that in August won 21 out of 27 games.
Punishments for felony domestic violence
In California, punishments for the crime of felony domestic violence can include a sentence of up to 4 years in prison and a fine of as much as $10,000.
A conviction of felony domestic violence also counts as one strike under California’s “Three Strikes” law, by which having a total of three strikes can lead to at least 25 years in prison.
In Houston and elsewhere in Texas, the crime of felony domestic violence is known as felony domestic assault, whose penalties and punishments depend on the nature of the crime.
What Are the Long-Term Effects of a Domestic Violence Charge in Texas?
The long-term effects of a domestic violence charge can be serious, even if you’re not convicted.
Texas domestic assault laws, punishments
Laws and punishments for domestic assault in Texas concern the crime of:
- Purposely or carelessly causing bodily injury to another person,
- Intentionally threatening another person with imminent bodily injury, or
- Intentionally engaging in provocative or offensive contact.
When such offenses are committed against a family member or a household member—which can include dating partners—the crime is known as domestic assault.
Under Texas law, domestic assault can be considered a misdemeanor (a lesser charge) or a felony.
A misdemeanor domestic assault occurs when threats of harm are made or provocative or offensive contact occurs. That is a class C misdemeanor, whose penalties can include a fine of up to $500.
If a victim suffers a bodily injury, the crime is heightened to a class A misdemeanor, whose punishments can include up to 1 year in jail and a fine of up to $4,000.
When an assault involves injury and the defendant has any previous domestic assault convictions, or when the defendant attempts to strangle or suffocate a victim, the crime becomes a third-degree felony. Penalties can include 2 to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.
If 2 assaults against a family or household member occur within 12 months, the crime is known as continuous violence against the family, which is a third-degree felony. Such a crime occurs even if a past charge of domestic violence did not lead to a conviction and even if the 2 assaults within 1 year were not committed against the same person.
Punishments can include up to 1 year in jail and a fine of as much as $4,000.
Alternatives to Jail, Prison for Domestic Violence in Texas
There are alternatives to imprisonment in Texas, depending on the nature of the domestic violence charge.
Aggravated domestic assault is worse
Even worse in Texas is aggravated domestic assault.
That crime is generally a second-degree felony, subjecting the offender to a possible 2 to 20 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
The crime becomes a first-degree felony when the victim suffers serious bodily injury, such as a broken bone, a lost limb, or an injury requiring surgery or hospitalization, or when the incident involves the use or exhibition of a deadly weapon, such as a knife or firearm.
Penalties for that can include a prison sentence of 5 to 99 years and a fine of up to $10,000.
Get an experienced Houston-area domestic assault defense lawyer
If you or a loved one in the Houston area faces a claim, accusation, allegation or charge of domestic assault or domestic violence, you must get a skilled, knowledgeable and experienced domestic assault defense lawyer.
Contact the award-winning Neal Davis Law Firm today to arrange a private consultation for your case. To protect your freedom, you must defend your legal rights.
