Predators Austin Watson pleads no contest to misdemeanor domestic violence charge

Nashville Predators forward Austin Watson has pleaded no contest to misdemeanor domestic violence in a Tennessee court on Tuesday.

According to Natalie Neysa Alund of the Tennessean, Watson will spend the next three months on probation after his no contest plea. Watson was arrested during an incident with his girlfriend at a gas station.

Police reports indicated Watson got into an argument about “her drinking and not being able to attend a wedding.”

“At the scene, the affidavit continued, Watson admitted to pushing his girlfriend and an officer noticed red marks on the woman’s chest.”

Neysa Alund reports the victim (who has a baby with Watson) asked for the case to be dismissed, but the state felt like there was enough evidence to prosecute regardless.

The prosecutor said the reported victim in the case, with whom @PredsNHL Austin Watson has a baby, asked for the case to be dismissed but the state felt due to other witnesses in the case they could still prosecute it.

— Natalie Neysa Alund (@nataliealund) July 24, 2018

Should the 26-year-old violate his probation, he’ll face up to a year in prison. Watson will also have to complete 26 weeks of a betterer intervention course, per Neysa Alund.

Conditions of Austin Watson’s 3-month probation:
1) Peaceful contact w/ the victim 2) complete 26 weeks of a batterers intervention program 3) Complete inpatient treatment for drugs and alcohol program (that last one is pretty typical in domestic violence cases)

— Natalie Neysa Alund (@nataliealund) July 24, 2018

Watson, who’s currently under contract with the Predators, scored 14 goals and 19 points in 76 games with the team in 2017-18. Whether the team will keep Watson on the roster after the plea remains to be seen.

[Tennessean]