The Santa Clara County district attorney has declined to file domestic violence charges against San Francisco 49ers defensive end Ray McDonald because of insufficient evidence, according to ESPN.
Ray McDonald not charged in domestic violence case
Citing insufficient evidence, the Santa Clara County DA has opted not to bring charges against the 49ers defender.
Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports
According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, a Santa Clara DA interoffice memo explained charges were not filed because "both parties state Jane Doe struck Ray McDonald first."
McDonald was arrested for suspicion of domestic abuse in August, the first player to do so after the league announced its stiff new domestic violence policy. Police were summoned to his house during his birthday party and the arrest report noted an unnamed female victim, believed to be McDonald’s fiancee, had “visible injuries.”
“All domestic violence complaints deserve our concern, sensitivity and careful review,” district attorney Jeff Rosen said Monday. “After our thorough review of all the facts, we do not have evidence sufficient to convince a jury beyond a reasonable doubt that Mr. McDonald committed a crime against Jane Doe.”
McDonald has continued to play this season as the NFL waited for the legal proceedings to play out. That stands in contrast to Greg Hardy, who was put on the commissioner's exempt list for an offseason domestic violence arrest and is expected to miss all of 2014. The key difference in Hardy's case was he has been convicted of his crime, though the case is currently in the appeals process.
The league has been roundly criticized for its policy of letting due process run its course before taking disciplinary action.
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