There’s a chance Puka Nacua could avoid charges for his alleged biting incident on New Year’s Eve. According to USA TODAY, the legal matter has been assigned for a City Attorney hearing.
Deputy Director of Communications for the City Attorney’s Office Ivor Pine told USA TODAY that charges have not been filed against Nacua at this time, but the case “stays open throughout the length of the statute of limitations.
Additionally, Pine says a pretrial diversion is “available to eligible individuals as an alternative to misdemeanor criminal prosecution,” potentially keeping this matter from going to trial.
Here’s more from USA TODAY’s story, including a statement from the woman’s representative.
“We feel validated that the city attorney is proceeding with its charge for battery to a hearing,” Joseph Kar, who is representing the woman, said in a statement provided to USA TODAY Sports. “This dispels the false narrative Mr. Nacua and his crisis team tried to push to the press before Mr. Nacua entered a drug and alcohol rehabilitation facility. Those city attorney proceedings are not a formal criminal filing but have very serious implications for an accused defendant, especially for a famous football player in the prime of his career such as Makea ‘Puka’ Nacua.”
It was not immediately clear if Nacua is eligible for pretrial diversion and what the specific criminal charges might be. The City Attorney handles only misdemeanors.
The civil lawsuit against Nacua is continuing, with the woman seeking damages for assault and battery, gender violence and negligence. That civil case is separate from the City Attorney hearing.
The lawsuit was filed against Nacua in March after he was accused of biting a woman and making an antisemitic comment while out on New Year’s Eve. She also filed a temporary restraining order, which was denied.
This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: Puka Nacua’s alleged biting incident gets update from city attorney
Reporting by Cameron DaSilva, Rams Wire / Rams Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
