Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman is facing three criminal charges in Walton County, Georgia, after allegedly smashing the windshield of a car occupied by his 3-month-old child and their mother, according to Jonas Shaffer of the Baltimore Banner.
The incident, which was first reported by TMZ, took place on the morning of June 3. Bateman, a Georgia native, turned himself in later that day. The 26-year-old was charged with one felony – first-degree criminal damage to property – and two misdemeanors
– family violence battery and reckless conduct. The first charge carries up to a year of jail time.
A Ravens spokesperson issued the following statement regarding Bateman’s arrest: “We are aware of the situation involving Rashod and have been in direct communication with him. We notified the league office and have been cooperating throughout the process. As this is a pending legal matter, we will not have further comment.”
Bateman’s lawyer, Jordan Siev, also provided a statement to news outlets: “It is unfortunate that a personal family situation has been taken completely out of context for sensational reasons. We will let the court process play out, and the facts will come out at that time.”
The matter is under review by the NFL and could result in a suspension for violating the league’s personal conduct policy, which mandates a six-game minimum suspension for any family-related violence. The presence of Bateman’s infant in the car could be considered an aggravating factor in levying a more severe punishment.
