Niners’ Foster dodges domestic violence charge
A Santa Clara County judge ruled Wednesday that San Francisco 49ers linebacker Reuben Foster will not have to stand trial on domestic violence charges after determining there was no evidence that Foster ever hit his ex-girlfriend.
Judge Nona Klippen said prosecutors didn’t meet the burden of probable cause on charges of felony domestic violence and forcefully attempting to dissuade a witness.
Foster was also charged with felony possession of an assault weapon after officers found a Sig Sauer 516 short-barreled rifle in his home while investigating his ex-girlfriend’s domestic violence report. That charge was reduced to a misdemeanor.
The 49ers have not allowed Foster to take part in the offseason program while he dealt with these charges and GM John Lynch had said he would be cut from the team if it was determined that he hit a woman. Foster will be allowed back today now that the domestic violence charges have been dropped.
“It has been made clear to Reuben that his place on this team is one that must continue to be earned,” Lynch said. “We will continue to monitor the remaining misdemeanor charge.”
The accuser, Elissa Ennis, recanted her accusations two days after telling police she was hit in the head eight to 10 times by Foster. She testified at a preliminary hearing last week that the injuries were caused by a fight with another woman and she gave prosecutors video of that fight. She said she lied initially because she wanted retribution after Foster tried to end their relationship.
l Veteran NFL guard Richie Incognito has been taken into custody for psychiatric examination after an incident at a Florida gym. Boca Raton police say they received a call from a gym patron about a disturbance and as a result took Incognito into custody under Florida’s Baker Act, which allows for involuntary psychiatric commitment for people seen as a danger to themselves or others.
ANGELS RALLY, BEAT JAYS
Shohei Ohtani hit a tying two-run single in the ninth, Andrelton Simmons added another two-run hit and the Los Angeles Angels rallied to beat host Toronto.
l Adam Plutko carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning and Andrew Miller pro- (Best-of-7) Monday at Vegas Wednesday at Vegas Saturday, June 2 Washington Monday, Washington Thursday, June 7 Vegas* June 4 at Sunday, Washington* Wednesday, June 13 June 10 at Vegas* *-If necessary. All games start at 8 p.m. Games 1, 4, 5-7 on NBC, Games 2, 3 on NBCSN. vided stellar relief work, helping Cleveland beat the Chicago Cubs, 1-0, at Wrigley Field. Plutko (2-0) struck out four and walked four in his second major league start.
l Justin Verlander got some run support for the first time in nearly a month and led host Houston over San Francisco, 4-1. Verlander (6-2) struck out nine and walked one in six innings, allowing one run and three hits as his major-league leading ERA rose slightly to 1.08.
l Jake Arrieta (4-2) struck out seven in 6 2/3 sharp innings, Carlos Santana’s swinging-bunt broke a scoreless tie and host Philadelphia beat Atlanta, 4-0. The Phillies took two of three to win their first series against the NL East-leading Braves in four tries and closed to within a halfgame of first place. at at at