Dallas
Judge Roberto Canas ordered the currently unemployed football star to have no contact with his ex-girlfriend, Colleen Crowley, whether in person, by phone or through social media.
“Mr. Manziel, you know my job as judge is just to make sure you get a fair shot at the process,” the judge said after taking the bench. “My other job is to make sure everybody in the case stays safe. That includes yourself, and Ms. Crowley, as well.”
He told Manziel that living up to those conditions was “on you.”
Next Canas, who mainly handles family violence cases, asked Manziel whether he owns any guns or lives somewhere where there are guns, another prohibition of his bond terms.
“No, your honor,” said Manziel each time. He was dressed in a blue suit and tie with a white shirt and brown sneakers. Standing at the defense table with his hands behind his back, Manziel extended his middle finger toward the spectators and cameras.
The entire hearing lasted less than five minutes, and then the judge moved on to the other 17 defendants on his morning docket. The hearing is one of the most typical heard each day at the courthouse. One of Manziel’s attorneys, Jim Darnell of El Paso, Texas, nudged Manziel’s shoulder, urging to stand when the judge took the bench, a common courthouse show of respect.
Manziel did not enter a plea. But his attorneys have said Manziel will plead not guilty.
In recent weeks, he has been seen partying at Coachella and attended a Justin Bieber concert on the day of his indictment.
Another Manziel attorney, Bob Hinton, declined to say what he had advised his client about all the partying. “He’s doing great,” Hinton said. “He’s doing great.” Hinton didn’t elaborate.
The judge did not order Manziel to remain in Dallas County as a condition of his bond and Manziel’s attorney, Bob Hinton, said that his client will return to Los Angeles and “just go about his life.”
As Manziel left the courthouse, he blew a kiss to his sister, Meri, before his car pulled away from the building. Earlier, he playfully flipped her hair on the escalator.
Manziel turned himself in and posted $1,500 bond in Highland Park on Wednesday on a misdemeanor charge connected to an alleged assault on his ex-girlfriend. Police also took his mugshot.
Rachael Rustman, a 2009 graduate of Texas A&M, stood outside the courtroom wearing a Free Manziel T-shirt with a picture of his face. She called the accusations against the former college football star “baseless.”
Manziel stared straight ahead as he left the courtroom. He didn’t answer questions and didn’t make a statement.
Manziel, 23, was indicted last month on a charge of misdemeanor assault. After posting bond Wednesday, he tweeted and then deleted, “Just thankful I had a shirt this time…”
He was shirtless in a previous mugshot when he was arrested in college after fighting and having a fake ID.
Crowley, 23, accused him of kidnapping, hitting and threatening to kill her in January at Hotel ZaZa in uptown Dallas during a fight over another woman. They broke up in December after dating for two years.
She told police that Manziel had invited her to his hotel room to talk that night and that he slapped her on the head, rupturing her eardrum and causing her to lose her hearing. She said he then dragged her by the hair and forced her into a car, which he drove to Fort Worth, Texas, where she lives.
Dallas police referred a misdemeanor domestic violence assault to a grand jury instead of arresting Manziel.
Crowley sought and was granted a protective order that prohibits Manziel from seeing her for two years and orders him to stay at least 500 feet from her home and work.
Manziel — who had a reputation for partying and drinking when he entered the NFL — was cut by the Browns, dropped by two agents and lost his Nike endorsement deal after the assault allegations became public.
An NFL spokesman has said the league’s investigation of the incident is ongoing. If Manziel returns to the NFL, he could face repercussions even if he is not convicted in court.
The next court date is set for June 24. But Manziel’s presence is not required. There won’t be an official hearing, it’s just a date meant for the defense to confer with prosecutor Jerry Varney.
If convicted, Manziel faces up to a year in the Dallas County Jail and a $4,000 fine.