Grizzlies forward enters not guilty plea on assault charge
Memphis Grizzlies basketball player James Johnson entered a not guilty plea in court Monday morning after being charged with domestic assault Saturday.
Johnson, 27, was arrested Saturday after an altercation with his wife of two years and her mother.
He appeared before Judge William Turner with his lawyer, Leslie Ballin, and entered the plea.
Turner said Johnson can’t directly or indirectly contact his wife or motherin-law, can’t use any drugs or alcohol and he can’t go home or any other place his wife or mother-in-law might go.
On Saturday, Callie Johnson reported to police that her husband, the 2009 16th overall Chicago Bulls draft pick, slapped and choked her.
According to an affidavit, he punched a hole in a wall while trying to grab their child, but his motherin-law got the child from Callie Johnson. James Johnson then allegedly pushed his mother-in-law, grabbed the baby and “ran off.”
While police were taking statements from Callie Johnson and her mother, James Johnson returned to his Downtown home, where police arrested him.
He was released from jail Saturday on a $1,000 bond. After court, Ballin maintained his client’s innocence.
“I hope that my client gets the exact same treatment as if he were not a basketball player,” he said. Johnson remained silent at the urging of Ballin, but took photos with fans outside the Shelby County Criminal Justice Center.
Tamika Brown took pictures with Johnson, who was signed to the Grizzlies out of the NBA Development League in December 2013.
“I think there’s two sides to every story and every man is innocent until proven guilty,” she said. “We weren’t there. It’s one-sided.”
Brown said she doesn’t think a man should hit a woman under any circumstances.
“If it did happen, then he needs to pay for what he’s done,” she said.
The forward averaged 7.4 points per game this season.