De'Andre Johnson, one of the contenders to replace No. 1 overall draft pick Jameis Winston as quarterback at Florida State, turned himself in to the Leon County jail Tuesday on a reduced charge of misdemeanor battery. He posted $500 bond and was released.
Johnson is alleged by the Tallahassee Police Department to have pushed and punched a woman at Yianni's bar in Tallahassee last week after an argument while the two were waiting for a drink at the bar. Police have obtained security video of the incident from the bar and had initially issued a charge of felony battery.
The alleged victim was treated at the scene and refused transport to the hospital, and Johnson was immediately suspended from the team.
The Johnson family has retained Jose Baez to defend Johnson, according to the Florida Times-Union. Baez, an FSU graduate, represented Casey Anthony in a child murder case that had the nation's attention in 2011. Anthony was acquitted.
Johnson, a freshman, enrolled at FSU in January after winning the state's Mr. Football award at Jacksonville (Fla.) First Coast High. He completed 8 of 11 passes for 155 yards and two touchdowns in FSU's final spring scrimmage, the Garnet and Gold game, although a transfer from Notre Dame, Everett Golson, is expected to earn the starting role.
According to the report, FSU coach Jimbo Fisher is now free under school policy to reinstate Johnson to the team because the charge has been reduced to a misdemeanor.
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