In Fort Lauderdale, Former Yankee Charged with Domestic Battery, DUI

In South Florida, former Yankees player Jim Leyritz, 45, was arrested on domestic battery charges last Thursday. The arrest occurred two months before he was scheduled to stand trial on a DUI manslaughter charge. That trial is scheduled to start on September 14, and police allege that Leyritz was drug when he caused a fatal car accident in December 2007.

A Florida judge ordered Leyritz to stay in jail because his arrest on domestic battery charges violated the conditions of his earlier release on bail.

According to the police officer who responded to a domestic disturbance at Leyritz’s home in Davie, Florida, the pro athlete’s wife gave inconsistent reports of what happened. Initially, she told police that Leyritz hit her in the face and pushed her to the ground during an argument over child support. Later, she told police that her ex-husband had dragged her out of bed and pushed her against the wall.

Leyritz told police that his ex-wife had hurt herself as revenge for his attempts to evict her from their shared house. His defense attorney says he plans to ask the judge to rethink the decision on Leyritz’s bail.

Leyritz, Awaiting Trial, Is Charged With Battery, New York Times, July 3, 2009
Contact a South Florida criminal defense lawyer if you have been arrested and a charged with a crime.