Julio Urias faces misdemeanor charges after DA decision on domestic violence case

The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office announced on Tuesday that it will not pursue felony charges against former Dodgers pitcher Julio Urias, who was arrested on suspicion of domestic violence. In their charge-evaluation worksheet, the office stated that "neither the victim's injuries nor the defendant's criminal history justify a felony filing."

This decision means that the case will now be considered for misdemeanor charges by the Los Angeles City Attorney's Office. Following Urias' arrest, Major League Baseball (MLB) initiated an independent investigation into the incident. However, MLB is likely to wait for the city attorney's office to make a ruling before determining any potential suspension for Urias.

This development comes after Urias was suspended for 20 games by MLB in August 2019 following an arrest on suspicion of misdemeanor domestic battery. Notably, he was not criminally charged in that incident. If MLB decides to suspend Urias again, he would become the first repeat offender under the league's domestic violence policy, which was established in August 2015.

The incident leading to Urias' arrest occurred on the night of September 3, when he was suspected of corporal injury on a spouse and subsequently placed on administrative leave by MLB. This effectively ended his season. The altercation took place in the parking lot of BMO Stadium after an LAFC soccer match, where an eyewitness observed Urias engaging in a physical altercation with his wife. He was released on $50,000 bail the following morning.

Urias' future is up in the air

The California Highway Patrol's major crimes division conducted a thorough three-month investigation into the incident before handing the case over to the district attorney's office on December 11. According to the charge-evaluation worksheet, Urias allegedly pushed the victim against a fence and "pulled her by the hair or shoulders."

Urias, who was signed out of Mexico as a young prospect, has had a promising career with the Dodgers. Despite facing major shoulder surgery, he made significant contributions to championship-caliber teams and even played a crucial role in the 2020 World Series. However, his future in MLB now appears uncertain, even in the absence of a criminal conviction.

Before the incident, Urias was expected to secure a lucrative contract in the free-agent market due to his potential. However, his off-field behavior has cast a shadow over his future in the league. The outcome of the city attorney's considerations and any potential MLB suspension will likely have a significant impact on Urias' career moving forward.

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