Dez Bryant’s mother doesn’t want to pursue charges

[Midswat]

xPosted by Mike Florio on July 23, 2012, 8:19 PM EDT

APRoughly a week after Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant’s mother called the cops on her son, Angela Bryant has decided that she wants to call off the dogs.

According to the Associated Press, Angela Bryant has told the authorities that she doesn’t want to press charges against Dez.

Bryant was arrested on July 14 after he allegedly hit his mother across the face with a ball cap and grabbed her by the T-shirt.

Though Angela Bryant’s decision doesn’t mean the case will be dropped, it will be hard to achieve a conviction if Angela Bryant isn’t inclined to cooperate.

 

[Midswat]

‏@richiewhitt
Even if Angela Bryant doesn't want to press charges against Dez, the DA's office can continue with case. #Cowboys

 

[GloryDaysRBack]

yo, pep, what's the deal here?

How hard is this going to be for the DA without His mom? More than likely things just blow over?

 

[Bonecrusher#31]

If Dez didn't confess(and I can't believe his lawyer would let him) they have no case with the half-brother saying it didn't happen.

 

[GloryDaysRBack]

If Dez didn't confess(and I can't believe his lawyer would let him) they have no case with the half-brother saying it didn't happen.

Did Dez not confess? I stopped paying attention

 

[Bob Sacamano]

He all but admitted to it in his lawyer's statement.

 

[peplaw06]

The DA's office can still pursue charges even if the alleged victim is not wanting to. There are two different kinds of alleged victims who sign affidavits of non-prosecution: 1) the ones who are scared shitless that pursuing the charges and cooperating would cause the defendant to continue to abuse them, likely more severely, and 2) the ones who honestly don't want to see the charges pursued for any number of reasons (i.e. the defendant going to jail would impact them financially, or the story they gave the police was untrue, etc.).

If the DA gets an ANP, they can call up the victim and ask them questions to try to glean the motive for signing it and trying to drop charges. If you get someone who is just scared to testify, then the DA may want to pursue the charges to try to protect that person. They can subpoena the victim and request that they testify, and if they're really just scared, they could get the victim to tell the truth of what happened on the stand. Sometimes with a victim like that, if you convince them that pursuing the charges and cooperating is the best thing for them, and they will testify.

If the DA believes that the alleged victim is genuinely wanting to drop charges because they were untruthful or because it impacts their family, finances, and so on, then they may decide to drop charges. And if the victim is adamant that they won't testify, calling them to try to force them to testify makes the prosecutor look ridiculous, and they don't like looking ridiculous in front of juries.

In this situation, the DA would have to try to figure out Dez's mom's motives. And you have the added facts that Dez's mom isn't of the greatest character, and would get crucified by a good defense attorney. And if you have his brother controverting what she's saying, it looks like an awful case. I'd also be interested to see if the DA has any pictures of any injuries that she suffered. If there are no pictures that are incriminating, then it sounds like a great case for Dez's attorney to try, they could probably get an acquittal.

 

[peplaw06]

yo, pep, what's the deal here?

How hard is this going to be for the DA without His mom? More than likely things just blow over?

Forgot to address this. If Dez's mom isn't cooperative on the stand, then the DA can only go off the police officer's testimony, that will include hearsay statements from Dez's mom and other third hand information... wouldn't be real reliable. Usually the DA won't go forward just on that.

I've said in a couple other threads, that if I was the DA, I would probably try to do some kind of diversion without trial, and get Dez to take a deal with some kind of probation to do.

 

[GloryDaysRBack]

Forgot to address this. If Dez's mom isn't cooperative on the stand, then the DA can only go off the police officer's testimony, that will include hearsay statements from Dez's mom and other third hand information... wouldn't be real reliable. Usually the DA won't go forward just on that.

I've said in a couple other threads, that if I was the DA, I would probably try to do some kind of diversion without trial, and get Dez to take a deal with some kind of probation to do.

Thanks, Pep!

Hopefully Dez doesn't get suspended. That would be wonderful

 

[Midswat]

Pretty sure you have graduate law school prior to becoming a twitter blogger, so this is comforting:

@espn_nfceast
Doubt it. RT @Kazzerigian: @espn_nfceast If Dez's mother won't press charges will NFL still act?

 

[Bob Sacamano]

What about the bruises, pep?

 

[Freddie]

Like I've always said, sometimes bitches need a good beating. I occassionally have to slap the wife around when she gets out of line. She knows better than to press charges as well. I hope you can respect that.

 

[peplaw06]

What about the bruises, pep?

Yeah that's what I was referring to when I said I would be interested in seeing if there were any pictures of her injuries. Just depends on the severity.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

Yeah that's what I was referring to when I said I would be interested in seeing if there were any pictures of her injuries. Just depends on the severity.

What if she had bruises and they weren't that bad? Simple battery?

 

[peplaw06]

If there are bruises then the severity will help the DA corroborate her story. If there are pictures of injuries but they don't corroborate her story, then the DA will probably want to pass.

There is simple assault in Texas, a Class C misdemeanor (same level as a speeding ticket), but there's no battery offense.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

If there are bruises then the severity will help the DA corroborate her story. If there are pictures of injuries but they don't corroborate her story, then the DA will probably want to pass.

There is simple assault in Texas, a Class C misdemeanor (same level as a speeding ticket), but there's no battery offense.

Cuz they just call it simple assault as opposed to batttery? Or is it completely separate?

 

[peplaw06]

Assault and battery are basically the same thing, but battery requires touching. Texas uses assault, so more incidents fall under it.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

Ah, ok. I'm just wondering why they're pursuing this still even if she refuses to press charges. There must be some type of evidence to support the notion? Or are they bluffing?

 

[lons]

They won't be pursuing this, Jerry's got enough money to make this go away now that she won't press charges, it is more political.

 

[peplaw06]

Has there been something that says they're pursuing charges?