Miami Herald reporter Adam H. Beasley wrote Thursday evening Steelers center Maurkice Pouncey will face charges stemming from a nightclub fight on the night of his birthday in July.
Quoting the lawyer of the alleged victims, Beasley wrote: "Personal injury attorney Marwan Porter said police have indicated that Pouncey, a center for the Pittsburgh Steelers, will be charged with misdemeanor battery."
Jeff Ostrow, the attorney defending both Maurkice Pouncey and his brother, Dolphins center Mike Pouncey, who was also alleged to be involved in the fight, said as of Thursday evening no assistant district attorney has been assigned to the case - suggesting charges are not as imminent as Porter suggests.
"Until such time, no charges can be formally filed against either of my clients," Ostrow told Beasley. "From what we’ve discovered, the evidence supporting the battery claims is flimsy, at best."
The victims threatened to sue both of the Pounceys upon retaining counsel, and this is the first talk of it being a criminal matter. Police initially did not bring up charges, and one of the victims said they refused to listen to her complaint that Maurkice Pouncey struck her in the face.
This is bound to get dicey, considering the amount of heat the NFL and commissioner Roger Goodell have taken recently in wake of a two-game suspension handed down to Ravens running back Ray Rice, who was accused of striking his now-wife at an Atlantic City casino in May.
The female victim, identified as "pretty_moneymmg" on Instagram, wrote a scathing account of what happened, including an accusation that Maurkice Pouncey punched her, and that she had filed a report with the police.
"Went inside @Cameomia 10 minutes just to be punched in my face by Marquise [sic] Pouncey for trying to stop him and his brother mike from beating the shit out of my friend @irickyvasquez. Filed a report even though the Police said nothing probably will be done about this situation. These athletes get on all these fuckin drugs and act an ass knowing they will be protected by these clubs because of how much money they spend in their clubs but I'm not gonna let this shit rest. I'm a female and I won't Stand for no man putting their hands on me."