Ex-MLB All-Star Josh Hamilton hit daughter repeatedly with closed fist before ripping her sweatshirt, charged
Ex-Major League All-Star Josh Hamilton voluntarily surrendered to the police after being accused of injuring one of his three daughters in September by punching her with a closed fist.
According to the arrest warrant affidavit obtained by CBS DFW, his daughter told the authorities that, on September 30, her father got upset because of a comment that she made and threw a water bottle at her which hit her on the chest. He then started yelling and cursing at her, proceeding to pull a chair out from under where she was resting her feet. As a result, the daughter lost her balance and fell on her hip which caused bruising.
He then picked her up, threw her over his shoulders and, ignoring her continued apologies, carried her to her bedroom. Throwing her on the bed, he pinned her against the mattress. He then started hitting her legs with both an open hand and a closed fist.
Hamilton, 38, then allegedly picked up her by her sweatshirt, causing it to rip. He then pushed her back on the bed and slapped her with his open hand on her back and her legs, which left scratches from his fingernails.
After he was finished hitting her, Hamilton allegedly told her: "I hope you go in front of the f***ing judge and tell him what a terrible dad I am so I don't have to see you anymore and you don't ever have to come to my house again."
Hamilton turned himself in a little after 2 p.m. on the charges of injury to a child, a third-degree felony. His bond was set at $35,000 and one of the initial conditions in his bond was that he was not to have contact with one of his daughters—a condition that was later expanded to any child under 17.
Hamilton’s attorney said: “Josh Hamilton voluntarily surrendered himself to Tarrant County authorities today. Mr. Hamilton is innocent of the charge against him and looks forward to clearing his name in court.”
The Texas Rangers issued the following statement on the incident: “The Texas Rangers take the issue of family violence very seriously. We are aware of the situation involving Josh Hamilton. Since this is an ongoing legal matter, we have no further comment.”