Mariners relief pitcher Julio Mateo turned himself in to police Saturday and was charged with third-degree assault after his wife was treated in a hospital for facial injuries.
The assault allegedly took place some time around 2:30 a.m. Saturday at the team's hotel in midtown Manhattan. The reliever's wife, Aurea, was taken to the facial injuries unit at St. Vincent's hospital, where she was given five stitches for what police confirmed was a bite mark on her lip.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/sports/2003695449_mateo06.html
I don't know how the laws are in NY, but in WA Assault 3 is a felony. I wonder if the stitches to the lip were a substantial enough injury to ratchet this offense into that territory. Hippie, help me out here...
Also, this is quite disturbing...
Mateo and his wife have an infant son, Julio Jr. It isn't known whether he was present at the time of the assault. The New York Times reported that an infant was in the room during the assault and that two other children, ages 7 and 11, were in an adjoining room.
You know, I've dealt with DV cases as a prosecutor, a defense attorney, and as a domestic violence advocate. This is subject matter that I've dealt with more times than I can count. Because of that...well, I didn't think much of Julio Mateo as a pitcher prior to today, and now I don't think much about him as a person.
And don't give me any of that "he hasn't been convicted of anything" line...I'm well aware of how that works. Wifebeaters skate routinely because, oddly enough, their victims are oft too afraid to testify against their assailant.
If their kid was present, that really pisses me off. It's one thing to think it's OK to hit your wife...but don't teach your kids to be like you. Maybe the police reports will change my opinion, but as of right now...I'm concerned.
