The new climate of text messages, smartphone apps and social media has transformed how information is sent and how quickly it’s received. It also presents new dangers as was recently illustrated by an attorney who accidentally revealed footballer Johnny Manziel was seeking a plea deal by text
Johnny Manziel is accused of kidnapping, attacking and threatening to kill his ex-girlfriend, Colleen Crowley.
According to Sportsday, attorney Bob Hinton, who was handling Manziel’s domestic violence case, accidentally sent a message to The Associated Press that expressed doubts about his client’s ability to stay clean and said he was seeking a plea deal. The report said the attorney received a receipt that showed Manziel may have spent more than $1,000 at a drug paraphernalia store a matter of hours after he was involved in a hit-and-run crash.
In July, Manziel’s spokeswoman Denise Michaels revealed that the attorney has withdrawn from the case. Hinton’s text message indicated that it might be difficult for Johnny Manziel to get a plea deal. He is just the latest football star to end up facing criminal charges.
Hinton said sending the text had left him with little choice but to withdraw. He said he did not want to be an interference.
Manziel was charged in January with kidnapping, hitting and threatening to kill ex-girlfriend Crowley at a hotel in Dallas during a fight over another woman.
They couple split up a month earlier after dating for two years. Crowley told investigators the alleged attack occurred after the footballer invited her to his hotel room to talk and that he slapped her head. She claims the alleged attack led to the rupturing of her eardrum and the loss of her hearing.
Crowley accused Johnny Manziel of then dragging her by her hair, forcing her into a car and driving her to her hometown of Fort Worth.
The footballer is charged with a misdemeanor and faces up to a year in a county jail if convicted. Reports said he plans to plead not guilty.
At Peek and Toland, PLLC, we represent many people who are accused of crimes of assault and family violence. You can read more about the crime here.
Most people who are accused of crimes know their victims. These cases can be tricky because emotions run high when family relationships are strained and false claims can be made.
You can be charged with assault by merely causing another person to fear harm against them. You don’t have to make contact to be charged with assault.
If you are facing charges of family violence, which include assault as well as aggravated assault, it’s very important to hire an attorney who is well versed in these matters. If you have been charged with a crime, please don’t put anything about it on social media or text messages. This evidence could be used against you.
At our Austin-based law firm, Jeff Peek, Steve Toland and their team have worked with those who are charged with crimes for more than a decade. You can read our success stories, then contact Peek Law Group today at (512) 399-2311.