Free-agent OL Rodney Austin found guilty of two counts of assault
Free-agent offensive lineman Rodney Austin has been found guilty in North Carolina court on four misdemeanor charges, including two counts of assault, according to the Detroit Free Press.
Austin was found guilty of assault on a female, assault on a child under age 12, interference with an emergency communication and larceny, according to the Free Press.
The Detroit Lionswaived Austin in April after he was arrested and charged with the four misdemeanor counts. He was accused of pushing a woman to the floor while she was holding their infant child, then preventing her from calling 911 by damaging and taking her cell phone.
According to the Free Press, Austin will receive his sentence on Thursday and will likely receive a “much lighter punishment based on sentencing guidelines” than the maximum 60 days in jail.
Austin's agent said in a statement on his website that Austin “maintains his innocence” but accepts the outcome of the ruling.
Austin, 26, spent most of the past three seasons on the Lions' practice squad.
- Molly Geary
