Domestic violence charges dropped against former Buckeye Jared Sullinger

Daniel Fyffe
Tue, 29 Oct 2013 02:23:11 +0000
Basketball, Sports, Boston Celtics, Buckeyes, Jared Sullinger, ohio state

Boston Celtics’ forward Jared Sullinger (7) has his shot blocked during a game against the Washington Wizards Nov. 2, 2012, at the Verizon Center. The Celtics won, 89-86.
Credit: Courtesy of MCT

Domestic violence charges against former Ohio State basketball player Jared Sullinger were dismissed Monday by a Waltham District Court judge, according to media reports.

Sullinger, who now plays forward for the Boston Celtics, faced charges of domestic violence stemming from an Aug. 31 incident in which he allegedly pinned longtime girlfriend, Deann Smith, to a bed and the floor.

Sullinger was released on $5,000 bail after turning himself in to police, but a Waltham District Court judge initially ruled he could not have contact with Smith unless they were in the presence of a third party.

Sullinger, a Boston Celtics spokesman and Sullinger’s attorney Charles Rankin did not respond to The Lantern’s request for comment Monday.

A three-page affidavit was filed by Smith’s attorney, Melinda Thompson, stating that her client opposed the stay-away and that “she did not want to pursue the case and is not fearful of Mr. Sullinger.”

District Judge Gregory Flynn dismissed the charges after Smith, whom Sullinger shared a home with in Waltham, Mass., told authorities she would not testify against the former power forward for the Buckeyes in court. Smith had also been repeatedly asking for the charges to be dropped since the incident occurred.

Sullinger, 21, pleaded not guilty to assault and battery, destruction of property in total of more than $250 and witness intimidation during a Sept. 3 arraignment, and although Smith attempted to have the charges dropped, prosecutors remained in pursuit of convicting him.

The defense asked to for the charges to be dropped, according to paperwork filed by Rankin, because there was no evidence to support them.

“Moreover, discovery in the case has revealed there are not excited utterances nor any other admissible evidence to support the charges,” Rankin wrote, according to a report by the Boston Globe.

Additionally, Rankin wrote that Smith notified District Attorney Marian T. Ryan’s office through her own attorney, saying she would invoke her Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination if called as a prosecution witness.

During his time at OSU, Sullinger started in 73 of the 76 games OSU played in from 2010-2012. Sullinger was a two-time AP All-American selection and helped lead the Buckeyes to appearances in the Sweet Sixteen in 2011 and Final Four in 2012.

The Celtics selected Sullinger with the 21st overall draft pick in the 2012 NBA Draft.