Controversial NBA star JR Smith accused of ‘hitting, grabbing or pushing’ a woman in shocking court filing
JR Smith ‘intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly’ caused ‘bodily injury’ to a member of his family or household or someone with whom he was dating, according to excerpts of the criminal complaint filed against the retired NBA star on Friday.
As previously reported by The Daily Mail, Smith was arrested Monday in Hunt County, Texas on a warrant out of Southlake and subsequently booked on a misdemeanor count of ‘assault caused bodily injury family violence.’ The 41-year-old has denied the allegations through his attorney in a statement provided to The Daily Mail earlier this week.
Now, The California Post has obtained a copy of the criminal complaint out of Tarrant County that accuses Smith of ‘hitting, grabbing or pushing’ a woman ‘with [his] hand.’
The Daily Mail has sought the criminal complaint from authorities in Tarrant County, Texas.
Smith was released from jail Tuesday on a $5,000 bond.
The arrest took place Monday afternoon when Royse City Police received an alert about a suspect traveling eastbound on Interstate 30. An officer observed the vehicle and checked the license plate before pulling over the suspect. Smith was with his brother at the time of his arrest and the younger sibling took possession of his car, according to the Royse City police press release.
JR Smith ‘intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly’ caused ‘bodily injury’ to a member of his family or household or someone with whom he was dating, according to a criminal complaint
As previously reported by The Daily Mail, Smith was arrested Monday in Hunt County, Texas on a warrant out of Southlake and subsequently booked on a misdemeanor assault charge
‘The wanted person was Earl Joseph [JR] Smith III and the charge was for Family Violence Assault Causing Bodily Injury,’ read Tuesday’s press release out of Royse City. ‘A traffic stop was conducted and the driver of the vehicle was identified as Earl Joseph Smith III. The warrant was confirmed and Mr. Smith was taken into custody.’
His attorney has since issued a denial on Smith’s behalf.
‘JR is eager to see this matter resolved and has full confidence in the legal process,’ attorney Justin A. Moore told The Daily Mail in an email. ‘He is presumed innocent, and we will address this matter in Court. We ask that everyone respect the privacy of all involved throughout the process.’
The 16-year NBA veteran won two titles alongside LeBron James – one with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016 and another with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2020 – before retiring and briefly becoming a college golfer at North Carolina A&T State University. He graduated last spring with a bachelor’s degree in Liberal Studies.
Smith does have a non-violent criminal history that includes a conviction for reckless driving over a car accident that killed his friend. Smith would later serve 24 days in prison.
Smith (right) won two titles alongside LeBron James (left) – one with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016 and another with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2020 – before retiring and focusing on golf
Smith of the North Carolina A&T Aggies greets playing partner Pedro Rabadan of the Elon Phoenix before the start of the Phoenix Invitational at Alamance Country Club in 2021
And in 2018, he ultimately paid $600 after throwing a fan’s cell phone into a Manhattan construction site.
Smith’s basketball career is largely remembered for his frequent run-ins with coaches and the league.
Not only was he fined twice for untying opponents’ shoes during a game, but he seemingly referenced gangs in a 2009 Twitter post and in 2012 he was arrested for failing to appear in court after being cited for operating a motor-scooter without a valid license.
He also once threw a bowl of hot chicken tortilla soup on Cavs assistant coach Damon Jones in 2018.
Smith also raised eyebrows by going shirtless for several consecutive days while celebrating the Cavs’ 2016 title, prompting then-president Barack Obama to ask head coach Tyronn Lue to intervene.
‘Tell JR Smith to put on a shirt, though,’ Obama told Lue. ‘He can’t just be walking around without a shirt for the [inaudible].’
A former Sixth Man of the Year, Smith averaged 12.4 points a game for his career with the Charlotte Hornets, Denver Nuggets, New York Knicks, Cavs and Lakers.
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