The Fulton County District Attorney’s Office has elected not to proceed with the felony aggravated assault strangulation charge brought against Braves outfielder Marcell Ozuna in May, according to reports from Fox 5 Atlanta and Alexis Stevens and Gabriel Burns of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Prosecutors are proceeding with a pair of misdemeanor charges — family violence battery and simple assault. Both charges carry sentences of up to one year in jail time.
Ozuna was arrested on May 29 after allegedly striking his wife Genesis and holding her against a wall by her neck. At the time, an officer alleged he saw Ozuna choking his wife — the impetus for the felony strangulation charge — but prosecutors have reportedly elected not to pursue that charge upon review of police body camera footage. Had Ozuna been convicted on that count, he would have faced up to twenty years in prison.
Shortly after his arrest, Ozuna was reportedly released on a $20,000 bond with a court order to avoid contact with his wife. It is unclear when he’s next expected back in court to answer for the two charges that remain against him.
Regardless of the outcome of the criminal proceedings, Major League Baseball has the authority to impose discipline against Ozuna under the terms of the MLB – MLBPA Joint Domestic Violence Policy. For the moment, Ozuna remains on the 10-day injured list after dislocating a pair of fingers on his left hand on May 26.
