Criminal case for ex-Central Phenix City football star Justyn Ross has new development
Criminal charges against former Central-Phenix City High School football star Justyn Ross could be dropped if he complies with a diversion agreement approved by a judge in Johnson County (Kansas) District Court.
Ross, 23, who was a standout wide receiver at Clemson and now plays in the NFL for the Kansas City Chiefs, was arrested in October and charged with one count of domestic battery with no priors and one count of property damage totaling less than $1,000. Both charges are misdemeanors.
The agreement, which isn’t publicly available, includes terms and conditions Ross must follow to have the charges dismissed, the Kansas City Star reported. If he violates the agreement, he still could be convicted.
Under state law in Kansas, defendants convicted of domestic battery with no priors may be sentenced to jail time ranging from two days to six months and a fine from $200 to $500, and defendants convicted of property damage totaling less than $1,000 may be sentenced to a maximum of six months in jail.
Ross pleaded not guilty to the charge and is free on a $2,500 bond.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell placed Ross, four days after his arrest, on the league’s exempt list. That means Ross isn’t allowed to practice or attend games.
Alleged domestic violence involving Justyn Ross
The Kansas City Star reported that Shawnee, Kansas, police arrested Ross around 3 p.m. Oct. 23 after an incident at an apartment.
Citing a criminal complaint filed by the Johnson County District Attorney’s Office, the alleged victim is someone with whom Ross “is or has been in a dating relationship,” the Star reported.
The Star also reported, according to police radio traffic recorded by Broadcastify.com, a dispatcher said the alleged victim told police that Ross was “dragging her through the house and has torn up the house.”
The alleged victim suffered unspecified minor injuries, the property damage is to a laptop, cellphone, computer monitor, gold bracelet and car key, and no weapons, alcohol or other drugs were involved in the incident, according to the police report cited by the Star.
Justyn Ross career highlights
Ross delivered an excellent freshman season in 2018 with Clemson, generating 1,000 receiving yards with nine touchdowns on 46 receptions. He wowed crowds and TV audiences by totaling 301 yards and three TDs on 12 receptions in Clemson’s two College Football Playoff games as the Tigers won the national championship.
But in 2019, after compiling 865 yards and eight TDs on 66 receptions as a sophomore, Ross was diagnosed with Klippel Feil syndrome, a congenital neck defect in which two neck vertebrae are abnormally fused. He missed the 2020 season while recovering from surgery to address the condition.
Ross also had surgery in 2021 to repair a stress fracture in his left foot, reducing his production to 514 yards and three TDs on 46 receptions.
Concerns about Ross’ health, despite oozing talent, made NFL teams wary, so Ross wasn’t selected in the 2022 draft. He instead signed as a free agent with the Chiefs, but he again was sidelined because of foot surgery and missed all of last season.
Before his arrest this season, Ross played in seven games with the Chiefs and caught three passes for 34 yards and no TDs.
This story was originally published December 6, 2023 at 12:00 AM.
