Far too often athletes make more headlines during the offseason, for all the wrong reason. NBA center Greg Oden now joins that ever-growing list. was arrested in Lawrence, Ind. this morning after allegedly punching a woman. When officers arrived at the home they found the victim crying and on a bed holding her face. A woman who claimed to be the victim’s best friend told officers what happened.
“He punched her in the face,” the witness said, according to the police report. Police “observed blood, swelling to the nose, lacerations to the forehead and nose area of the victim’s face. “They also “observed blood on the sofa and floor in the sitting area. The officers noticed blood on the living room carpet and dirt from a flower pot that was knocked over.”
Mr. Oden was “calm, apologetic and cooperative” according to the officers who spoke with him and he also admitted to his guilt. “I was wrong, and I know what has to happen,” Oden told police, according to the report.
While he can expect a stiff punishment in Indiana, here in Florida an assault charge is just as serious. A defense attorney will explain to you that if you are accused of assault, you might want to claim that the act was an accident or a joke that simply got out of hand. With evidence and testimony from witnesses, that is often easier said than done. Self defense is a more viable option, depending on the parties involved and the facts of the case.
