SANTA MONICA—On Monday, Popular ESPN personality and AOL fanhouse sportswriter Jay Mariotti was charged with seven misdemeanor counts for various crimes, all stemming from a domestic assault arrest on August 21.
The seven misdemeanor charges that Mariotti faces include counts of domestic violence, grand theft, vandalism and false imprisonment. Each charge carries a maximum of one year in jail.
Mariotti, who has been a long time personality on the ESPN talk show “Around the Horn,” will be off ESPN TV indefinitely. ESPN spokesperson Josh Krulewitz said, “We have no plans to use [Mariotti] at this time.”
The incident in question took place when Mariotti allegedly got into an argument with his girlfriend at a Santa Monica bar. The argument got more heated when the couple returned to Mariotti’s apartment, which led to the involvement of LAPD for complaints of domestic assault.
Debra Wong Yang, the acting attorney for Mariotti, released a statement proclaiming the charges false stating: “We are confident that the facts will show the complainant was extremely intoxicated that night and abusive toward Mr. Mariotti.”
