Marcell Ozuna, the Atlanta Braves camper, has agreed to enter a diversion program that could lead to his withdrawal from the domestic violence case.
Ozuna accepted the pretrial ruling Thursday, more than three months after she was arrested on assault charges for allegedly assaulting his wife. He faces charges of felony felony counts of domestic violence and simple assault, but Fulton County District Attorney Simone Hylton announced Thursday that those charges will be dropped if Ozuna meets the terms of the resolution within six months. months.
Ozuna was supervised for six months and must undergo a 24-week domestic violence intervention program, which includes an anger management course and a psychological assessment component, according to Hylton. He must also complete 200 hours of community service, refrain from illegal drug use, and avoid any contact with his wife.
Hylton also said the six-month supervision would end after three months if Ozuna meets all the requirements sooner.
“Hopefully once it’s over, I won’t see you again,” Fulton County Magistrate Brandy Brooks told Ozuna in a Zoom call, according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Ozuna’s next court appearance is scheduled for Jan. 13. His lawyer, Michael LaScala, told the Journal-Constitution that the preventive diversion program is a “fair resolution for both the state and my client.”
Ozuna, 30, was arrested on May 29 after police officers in the Atlanta suburb of Sandy Springs said they saw him attacking his wife, Genesis, while officers responded to a 911 call. The original charges included a felony charged with strangulation, but prosecutors withdrew the charge in July.
LaScala said Thursday that Ozuna should never have been charged with a crime and told the Journal-Constitution that the outfielder “is looking forward to leaving him behind.”
Ozuna could still face a lengthy Major League Baseball suspension, which is reviewing its case under the current domestic violence policy between MLB and the Major League Baseball Players Association. He re-signed with Atlanta after a stellar first season with the Braves in 2020, agreeing to a four-year, $ 65 million deal.
Ozuna has not played since his fingers were injured in a game against Boston on May 25, four days before his arrest. He has been on the ten-day injured list since May 28th.