Mets pitcher Jeurys Familia pleads not guilty to domestic violence charge
Jeurys Familia, the New York Mets' star relief pitcher who was arrested on a domestic violence charge, pleaded not guilty in Fort Lee (N.J.) Municipal Court on Thursday morning.
Familia, 27, appeared with his attorney Paul Brickfield and an interpreter to face the disorderly persons charge.
Fort Lee police said in a complaint filed in Municipal Court that Familia - identified as Jeurys F. Mojica in the court documents – caused "bodily injury to another" and that they observed a scratch on the chest and a bruise on the right cheek of the victim, whose name was redacted.
The Mets have said they are "monitoring the situation."
Familia was among several sports celebrities featured in an anti-domestic violence campaign that was launched last month by the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence.
The celebrities made videos that were posted on the campaign's website. Familia's video no longer appeared on that site.
The court complaint against him provided few details and did not include a narrative of events leading up to the injuries suffered by the victim. It said that a responding officer found probable cause "to believe that a domestic violence incident had occurred" based on an observation of the victim's injuries.
The pitcher, who made $4.1 million this year, had been living in Fort Lee with his wife and 1-year-old son, according to previous public reports. He has posted $1,500 bail and agreed to have no contact with the victim, according to court records.
Andrew Wyrich writes for The (Bergen) Record, part of the Paste BN Network.