Marvel film star Jonathan Majors is challenging his arrest and charges, including 3rd-degree assault (a lesser charge than 1st-degree assault), after an alleged domestic dispute with a female companion on the morning of Saturday, March 25, in New York.
According to People magazine, Majors was also charged with harassment in the 2nd degree, aggravated harassment in the 2nd degree and 3 counts of attempted assault in the 3rd degree.
The actor’s criminal defense attorney, Priya Chaudhry, asserts that he is the victim of false domestic violence allegations. She claims he will be exonerated and the charges will be dropped.
In a statement, Chaudhry said that Majors, 33, is “completely innocent and is probably the victim of an altercation with a woman he knows.”
“We are quickly gathering and presenting evidence to the [Manhattan] District Attorney with the expectation that all charges will be dropped imminently,” she said. “This evidence includes video footage from the vehicle where this episode took place, witness testimony from the driver and others who both saw and heard the episode, and most importantly, two written statements from the woman recanting these allegations.”
Later on the day of Majors’s arrest and arraignment, a judge granted a limited order of protection for the woman and released Majors on his own recognizance. His next court date is May 8.
The New York Police Department stated to the DA that Majors allegedly struck the victim about the face with an open hand, causing substantial pain and a laceration behind her ear. They also stated that he allegedly grabbed her hand and neck, causing bruising and substantial pain.
The NYPD said the woman had “minor injuries to her head and neck and was removed to an area hospital in stable condition.”
ABC News reported that Majors made a 911 call himself, after which police responded. The call was purportedly over concerns about the woman, 30, with whom he lives in a penthouse apartment in New York’s Chelsea neighborhood.
When police arrived, the woman told officers they’d been returning home in a taxi when Majors physically attacked her. After police noticed marks on the woman, Majors was taken into custody “without incident,” police said.
Even if the charges are eventually dropped, false accusations can lead to serious consequences for the accused. Learn when you may be able to sue back if you were falsely accused of a crime.
Defense lawyer expects exoneration
Majors’s defense lawyer said the woman was taken to the hospital because she was having “an emotional crisis,” a crisis which had led to the dispute.
“The NYPD is required to make an arrest in these situations, and this is the only reason Mr. Majors was arrested,” Chaudhry said in a statement reported by USA Today.
“We expect these charges to be dropped soon. All the evidence proves that Mr. Majors is entirely innocent and did not assault her whatsoever. We look forward to clearing his name and clearing this up.”
Majors is a Yale grad, Emmy nominee
Majors has already starred in 2 major movies this year. He played Kang the Conqueror in the recent Marvel film Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, and he fought the title star of the Rocky spinoff series Creed III, played by Michael B. Jordan.
A graduate of the Yale School of Drama with an MFA degree in acting, Majors received an Emmy nomination for outstanding lead actor in a drama series for HBO’s Lovecraft Country of 2020. He is set to headline 2025’s Avengers: The Kang Dynasty for the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
False claims of assault can be refuted
If you’ve been the victim of false claims of assault, you should know that such false allegations can be refuted by your criminal defense lawyer. If you’ve been charged with such an offense, it’s vital that you engage such an attorney before your case approaches trial, since they may be able to get the charge dropped or dismissed.
Also keep in mind that, as in Majors’s case in New York, you need a skilled criminal defense attorney to contest such a charge in the Houston area.
That’s because, even if the alleged victim withdraws an accusation, the alleged victim cannot drop a charge by themself under Texas law. Instead, a charge must be dropped by the prosecutor. That can be achieved with persuasive help from your defense attorney.
Learn why you should never wait to hire a lawyer if you’ve been charged with a crime.
While an alleged victim lacks the legal authority to drop a charge, that doesn’t mean the charge won’t be dropped. Having an uncooperative 1st-hand witness in the initial accuser severely undermines a prosecutor’s case, and the prosecutor is likely to decide not to proceed in court.
A knowledgeable criminal defense lawyer can also present evidence and arguments in negotiations with a prosecutor that affirm the need to dismiss a charge.
For instance, the need for self-defense may have been a factor in an alleged assault if the accused person was attacked first. Self-defense can be established by a defense lawyer even if the alleged victim maintains their accusation, and it can be the basis for dismissal of a charge.
It’s vital that your attorney works to get an assault charge dropped since even a relatively minor charge, such as misdemeanor battery, can have serious results. If convicted of that charge, you could spend up to 6 months in jail and be fined as much as $2,000, and you would have a criminal record.
Other charges for domestic assault, family violence or other assaults can have even more severe punishments.
Get an experienced Houston defense lawyer
If you need an experienced Houston defense lawyer to handle your assault case, contact us today at the award-winning Neal Davis Law Firm. We can fight for you and protect your legal rights. Contact us today, and let’s get started.
Was Jonathon Majors Convicted of Domestic Assault?
Learn about the conviction of Marvel star Jonathon Majors, and find out how his life and career may be impacted.
