Manziel charges could be dropped

He must complete requirements for deal to go through.

Former Texas A&M and NFL quarterback Johnny Manziel’s misdemeanor assault charge will be dismissed if he takes an anger management course and goes to rehab, among other requirements.

Manziel’s ex-girlfriend had accused him of kidnapping, beating and threatening to kill her a year ago. She claimed that the abuse, during a fight over another woman, left her deaf in her left ear.

Last month, the district attorney’s office and Manziel’s legal team reached an agreement to dismiss the charge against Manziel under a set of conditions. It could take up to a year for the charge to be dismissed, the DA’s office said in court filings Friday.

It was the first time the conditions of his previously announced dismissal were publicly detailed. Under the agreement, Manziel, who also played for the Cleveland Browns, will have to take an anger management course, attend a domestic violence victim impact panel and either participate in the NFL’s substance abuse program or go to a court-approved drug and alcohol rehab facility.

He also can’t have any contact with Colleen Crowley, the ex-girlfriend whose allegations resulted in the assault charge.

The dismissal agreement still needs the approval of the judge overseeing the case. It will be Manziel’s responsibility to find a place for treatment or counseling, the DA’s office said.

The dismissal agreement will be thrown out if Manziel doesn’t complete all of its requirements within a

or if he is charged with another offense, the DA’s office said. He would then prosecuted the Class A

charge. The maximum punishment

that charge is a year in jail and a $4,000 fine.

Manziel’s attorney, Jim Darnell, described the dismissal agreement in an

statement as a “fair and just resolution for all parties involved.”

“My client is pleased to be able to put this part of the situation behind him and is eager to satisfy the terms of the agreement,” Darnell said.

Crowley’s attorney could not be reached for comment Friday.

The goal of a conditional dismissal agreement is to teach an individual how to

better decisions when dealing with conflict, the DA’s office said.

“It is an important first step for a defendant,” the office said in an emailed statement. “Success or failure will depend upon one’s commitment to the treatment programs included.”

Jerry Varney, one of the assistant district attorneys on the case, said it is common for conditional dismissal agreements to be offered to someone who is charged with a misdemeanor because courts typically have a lot of misdemeanor cases to deal with.

“It is common for it to be offered, and it is common for it to be accepted,” Varney said. “This is not something new and novel.”

Over the next year or so, Dallas County prosecutors plan to keep tabs on a separate investigation involving Manziel.

Earlier this week, a bar employee in Austin sued Manziel in a Travis County court and accused him of punching him and breaking his nose. Austin police are investigating. It is unclear whether Manziel will face any charges in that case.