This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Fort Lee, N.J. • A judge dismissed a charge Thursday stemming from a domestic violence complaint against New York Mets star relief pitcher Jeurys Familia after his wife told a prosecutor that her husband did not hurt her.
The couple left the New Jersey courthouse and drove off together without talking to reporters.
The 27-year-old, an All-Star in 2016, could still face a Major League Baseball suspension if he's found to have violated its domestic violence policy. The League said in a statement that the investigation is ongoing.
Familia had been charged with simple assault and had pleaded not guilty after his wife, Bianca Rivas, made several frantic 911 calls to Fort Lee police on the morning of Oct. 31, in which she described her husband as "drunk."
"My husband had a little bit of alcohol, and he's going crazy," Rivas said in the 911 recording, according to excerpts of a transcript published by NJ.com.
Rivas was left with scratches on her chest and a bruise on her right cheek.
But the judge dropped the charge after Prosecutor Arthur Balsamo said he met with Rivas and her lawyer. Balsamo said Rivas told him that the scratch came from the couple's 1-year-old child and the mark on her cheek came from leaning on it.
Familia's attorney, Paul Brickfield, said they were happy the case was dismissed.
The Dominican Republic native set a franchise record with 51 saves last season. He previously was involved in an ad campaign for an anti-domestic violence group, which has since ended its relationship with him.