Domestic Violence Charges Against Hope Solo Dropped

U.S. Women's National team goalkeeper Hope Solo had both misdemeanor assault charges against her dropped Tuesday, according to the New York Times. Solo was arrested in June, after police responded to a 911 call from her home and found her sister and 17-year-old nephew with visible injuries. The police determined that Solo was the aggressor, but in court documents she argued that in fact she was the victim of her 6'9", 280 pound nephew. Via the Times:

The nephew, who was 17 at the time of the incident, became enraged at a comment Solo made and hit her repeatedly over the head with a broomstick handle, according to court records. The nephew previously said that Solo had been drinking wine and told him that he was "too fat and overweight and crazy to ever be an athlete."

The teenager called Solo a name, and she attacked him and her half-sister, the nephew said in court documents. The documents said the nephew had scratch marks and a torn T-shirt. Solo has been ordered to stay away from the two and to not drink alcohol.

The prosecution's case fell apart when, according to the Seattle Times, Solo's "attorney successfully argued that the alleged victims had refused to be deposed by defense attorneys."

With the Women's World Cup kicking off in Canada in five months—and given the increased scrutiny of domestic violence in professional sports following the Ray Rice and Adrian Peterson (and other) cases—there were calls to suspend Solo if she was convicted or accepted a plea. With the case dismissed instead, it is likely that Solo will face no punishment from the United States Soccer Federation.

[ New York Times/ Seattle Times]

Photo via Mitchell Leff/Getty