Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice will be allowed to enter a program to avoid prosecution in an alleged assault of his now-wife.
The Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office approved Rice’s acceptance into pretrial intervention Monday. Superior Court Judge Michael Donio then signed off on it Tuesday.
Upon successful completion of the program — which will be a minimum of one year — the third-degree charge of aggravated assault causing serious bodily injury would be dismissed. The arrest would remain on his record, but with no conviction.
Rice, 27, and his then-fiancee, Janay Palmer, were both originally charged with simple assault in the incident inside a Revel casino elevator early Feb. 15.
Palmer — who now goes by Janay Rice — was rendered unconscious in the altercation, according to the police report.
Video from outside the elevator showing Rice moving the unconscious woman was made public by TMZ. Video from inside the elevator, which was the main evidence against Rice, has not been made public.
A short time after the TMZ video became public, the case was referred to the Prosecutor’s Office for review.
On March 27, acting First Assistant Prosecutor Diane Ruberton presented the case to a grand jury, who indicted Rice a third-degree charge of aggravated assault causing serious bodily injury. The office decided to drop the charge against Palmer.
The couple married the next day, as had been planned, according to attorney Michael Diamondstein.
“This decision was arrived at after careful consideration of the information contained in Mr. Rice’s application in light of all of the facts gathered during the investigation,” acting Atlantic County Prosecutor Jim McClain said Tuesday. “After considering all relevant information in light of applicable law, it was determined that this was the appropriate disposition.”
Source: Press of Atlantic City | LYNDA COHEN
