Miles Bridges, a 24-year-old NBA forward, is accused of abusing his girlfriend Mychelle Johnson in front of their two young children.
According to DA George Gascón, the allegations originate from two different arguments on June 27 and 28, which are said to have gotten violent. The charges were brought in Los Angeles on Tuesday.
Following the alleged assault, Johnson posted pictures of her on social media with a severely damaged face.
During the assault Bridges is now accused of committing on her, she sustained a fractured nose, a concussion, and other severe injuries.
Domestic violence causes survivors to suffer from long-lasting physical, mental, and emotional stress, according to Gascón.
“The impact on children who see family violence is immense, and they are particularly vulnerable.”
“Mr. Bridges will be held responsible for his acts, and our Bureau of Victim Services will support the survivors during this challenging process,” it is stated.
Bridges is charged with two felonies for child abuse and one felony for harming a child’s parent.
He was initially detained on June 29 and is now at large on $130,000 bail.
Bridges, the Charlotte Hornets’ leading scorer the previous season, initially reported the burglary to Los Angeles police on June 30.
He was freed on a $130,000 bond while the inquiry was ongoing.
When Johnson phoned the police following the second incident, everything came to a head. Before they arrived, he had already left the site.
She posted many images of her bruised face, back, hands, ear, and leg on her Instagram page the next day, declaring that she “won’t be silent anymore.”
A medical report detailing the degree of her injuries was also released by Johnson.
She reportedly had a bruised rib, a concussion, and had been strangled.
Adult victim of physical abuse by male spouse, according to the diagnosis.
She stated, “I’ve allowed someone to wreck my house, mistreat me in every manner conceivable, and permanently traumatize our kids.”
She said that “after being choked till I went to sleep,” she had ripped muscles in her neck.
I don’t have anything to prove to the world, but I won’t let somebody who could commit such a heinous act do it without feeling regret and portray me as something I’m not.
I won’t let the individuals around him continue to quiet me and to tell lies in order to keep this person safe. It’s immoral, unethical, and downright ill, she declared.
The NBA and the Hornets both claimed to be aware of the allegations.
The Hornets told the Associated Press that they will “continue to monitor” these “extremely serious charges.
“We won’t have any more to say at this time because this is a legal situation.
Bridges, the 12th overall choice in the 2018 NBA Draft, made $16 million over the course of four seasons with the Hornets.
The team made a $8 million offer to him for the 2022–2023 season when he became a free agency in June.
Before the arrest and felony charges were made public, Michael Scotto of Hoops Hype predicted that he might earn a $25 million yearly contract.
The case’s potential impact on his professional career is unknown.
On and off the court, Bridges has developed a reputation for being a hothead.
He attempted to hurl his mouthpiece at a male heckler in April after getting kicked out of a game in Atlanta for yelling at officials, but instead, it struck a 16-year-old female spectator in the face.
When he later spoke to the media, Bridges expressed regret.
Bridges claimed, “I was aiming for the person who was screaming at me and it hit a little child.
“Therefore, I humbly accept responsibility and find that very unacceptable.
“That’s not like me,” I said.
You’ve been around me; I don’t behave or act in such a way. That was totally incorrect.
Bridges shared a picture of a purple beverage and what seemed to be a joint on social media earlier this month.
His supporters immediately accused him of drinking lean, a mixture that often consists of a soft drink or alcohol, cough medication with codeine and promethazine, and both.
Later, he refuted the charge by claiming it was “pink lemonade.”
The native of Flint was named to the first team of the Big Ten and the second-team All-Americans at Michigan State in 2018.
He became the main benefactor of the Hornets’ talented rookie point guard, LaMelo Ball, who averaged 20.2 points per game on nearly 50% shooting last season.
In LA Superior Court on Wednesday, Bridges will be charged.