Attorney: Charges dismissed against Glory Johnson in fight

By foxsports
Published

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) Charges have been dismissed against WNBA All-Star Glory Johnson in a domestic violence case involving her then-fiancee Brittney Griner, Johnson's attorney said Saturday.

Brian Russo said a Maricopa County Judge granted a motion to dismiss charges against his client for her role in the fight. Johnson and Griner were arrested on April 22 at their home in Goodyear, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix, on misdemeanor charges of assault and disorderly conduct.

Russo said the prosecutor in Goodyear considered Johnson the victim and chose not to proceed, in part, because it is difficult to treat the same person as both the aggressor and the victim. The case was moved to the Maricopa County Attorney's office, which filed a motion to dismiss before the judge granted it.

''At this point, it's very unlikely that she will face any charges as a result of that incident,'' Russo said.

Johnson, who plays for the Tulsa Shock, commented in an emailed statement to The Associated Press.

''As for the events on April 22, all charges against me have been dropped by the County Prosecutor's office, and therefore, there is no further need to discuss those events,'' she said.

Griner, the 6-foot-8 Phoenix Mercury star, agreed to undergo 26 weeks of domestic violence counseling as part of a plea agreement. Griner apologized to the league and her fans for her part in the fight.

Griner and Johnson were married on May 9, three weeks after they were arrested. Griner filed for an annulment on June 5, a day after Johnson announced she's pregnant.

Both players were suspended seven games by the WNBA after their arrests. Johnson's agent, Boris Lelchitski, said the Women's National Basketball Players' Association was planning to file a grievance to appeal the suspensions for both players, but Griner decided not to appeal. Griner is serving her suspension, while Johnson will sit out this season because of the pregnancy and serve her suspension next year.

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