Johnnyherd is right in his assessment. For everyone's general fund of knowledge, Domestic Battery encompasses everything from a mild push to a closed fist punch to the face. WV Code defines domestic battery as "Any person who unlawfully and intentionally makes physical contact of an insulting or provoking nature with his or her family or household member or unlawfully and intentionally causes physical harm to his or her family or household member"
Family or household member is defined as: (1) Are or were married to each other;
(2) Are or were living together as spouses; (3) Are or were sexual or intimate partners;
(4) Are or were dating: Provided, That a casual acquaintance or ordinary fraternization between persons in a business or social context does not establish a dating relationship;
(5) Are or were residing together in the same household;
(6) Have a child in common regardless of whether they have ever married or lived together;
(7) Have the following relationships to another person:
(A) Parent; (B) Stepparent; (C) Brother or sister; (D) Half-brother or half-sister;
(E) Stepbrother or stepsister; (F) Father-in-law or mother-in-law;
(G) Stepfather-in-law or stepmother-in-law; (H) Child or stepchild;
(I) Daughter-in-law or son-in-law; (J) Stepdaughter-in-law or stepson-in-law;
(K) Grandparent; (L) Step grandparent; (M) Aunt, aunt-in-law or step aunt;
(N) Uncle, uncle-in-law or step uncle; (O) Niece or nephew;
(P) First or second cousin; or
(8) Have the relationships set forth in paragraphs (A) through (P), subdivision (7) of this section to a family or household member, as defined in subdivisions (1) through (6) of this section.
WSAZ lists the other charge as "obstructing an officer". This is different from the "lying to a WV state trooper". There is a specific charge in the state code making it a crime to lie to a WV state trooper. It carries no jail time, therefore when all officers get lied to (it happens, I know everyone is shocked), they are usually charged with "obstructing an officer". This charge means everything from lying about one's name (upon arrest or a traffic stop, you aren't allowed to do that), to interfering with an officer trying to do something else, to even running away. Although when the latter is charged, media outlets usually get that right calling the charge correctly "fleeing".
I would guess he lied about his identity to avoid getting kicked off the team. I don't know what to think about the domestic violence charges. Purposeful violence that is not self-defense against anyone is not acceptable behavior. Such violence against one's family or household member, especially someone you are romantically involved with, is especially troubling. I see probably half of these cases as a waste of everyone's time. Either they are groundless or minor enough so the "victim" really doesn't mind the violence because she often gives as good as she gets. These are often dismissed upon request of the victim. Of the other half, half of those are technically a crime but get dismissed as the relationship is now over and there isn't any risk of stalking or worse (no weapons, little to no injury/property damage, no punching or kicking). The remaining 25% are fairly violent acts. Even still, victims often don't cooperate and a lot get dismissed. We still get convictions as we take pictures and subpoena hospital records.
It is early still. If guilty, get rid of him.
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