According to excerpts from a criminal complaint filed Friday, JR Smith allegedly “intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly” caused “bodily injury” to a family or household member, or to someone with whom he had a dating relationship.
As previously reported by Our News Outlet, the retired NBA star was arrested Monday in Hunt County, Texas, on a warrant issued in Southlake. He was booked on a misdemeanor charge of “assault causing bodily injury family violence.” The 41-year-old has denied the allegations through his attorney in a statement provided to Our News Outlet earlier this week.
Now, The California Post has obtained the Tarrant County criminal complaint, which alleges that Smith “hitting, grabbing or pushing” a woman “with [his] hand.”
Our News Outlet has also requested a copy of the complaint from authorities in Tarrant County, Texas.
Smith was released from jail Tuesday after posting a $5,000 bond.
The arrest occurred Monday afternoon after Royse City police received an alert about a suspect traveling eastbound on Interstate 30. An officer located the vehicle, checked its license plate and then conducted a traffic stop. Smith was with his brother when he was arrested, and the younger sibling took possession of the car, according to a Royse City Police Department press release.
JR Smith allegedly “intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly” caused “bodily injury” to a family or household member, or someone he was dating, according to a criminal complaint
As previously reported by Our News Outlet, Smith was arrested Monday in Hunt County, Texas, on a Southlake warrant and booked on a misdemeanor assault charge
“The wanted person was Earl Joseph [JR] Smith III and the charge was for Family Violence Assault Causing Bodily Injury,” Tuesday’s Royse City press release stated. “A traffic stop was conducted and the driver of the vehicle was identified as Earl Joseph Smith III. The warrant was confirmed and Mr. Smith was taken into custody.”
Smith’s attorney has since denied the allegations on his client’s behalf.
“JR is eager to see this matter resolved and has full confidence in the legal process,” attorney Justin A. Moore told Our News Outlet in an email. “He is presumed innocent, and we will address this matter in Court. We ask that everyone respect the privacy of all involved throughout the process.”
The 16-year NBA veteran won two championships with LeBron James: the first with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016 and the second with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2020. After retiring from basketball, Smith briefly pursued college golf at North Carolina A&T State University. He graduated last spring with a bachelor’s degree in Liberal Studies.
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Smith’s past criminal record includes a non-violent reckless-driving conviction stemming from a car accident that killed his friend. He later served 24 days in prison.
Smith (right) won two championships with LeBron James (left), with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016 and the Los Angeles Lakers in 2020, before retiring and turning his attention to golf
North Carolina A&T’s Smith greets playing partner Pedro Rabadan of Elon before the Phoenix Invitational began at Alamance Country Club in 2021
In 2018, he also paid $600 after throwing a fan’s cellphone into a Manhattan construction site.
Smith’s basketball career was often marked by clashes with coaches, opponents and the league.
He was fined twice for untying opponents’ shoes during games, appeared to reference gangs in a 2009 Twitter post, and was arrested in 2012 after failing to appear in court on a citation for operating a motor scooter without a valid license.
In 2018, he also threw a bowl of hot chicken tortilla soup at Cavaliers assistant coach Damon Jones.
Smith further drew attention during the Cavaliers’ 2016 championship celebration by going shirtless for several consecutive days, prompting then-President Barack Obama to ask head coach Tyronn Lue to intervene.
‘Tell JR Smith to put on a shirt, though,’ Obama told Lue. ‘He can’t just be walking around without a shirt for the [inaudible].’
A former Sixth Man of the Year, Smith averaged 12.4 points a game for his career with the Charlotte Hornets, Denver Nuggets, New York Knicks, Cavs and Lakers.
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