Jonathan Majors Charged With Misdemeanor Counts Of Assault & Harassment
By Fiyin Olowokandi on May 11, 2023 at 4:30 PM EDT
Jonathan Majors' assault case continues to be an unpleasant ride for the actor as he gets slapped with revised domestic violence charges.
The Hollywood sensation fell from grace in March 2023 after authorities arrested him following an alleged physical altercation with a 30-year-old woman. The entertainer has fought to clear his name in the wake of these accusations.
The pursuit for the truth went to the courtroom, where the father-of-one's legal team battled it out with the DA's representatives in their first showdown. Keep reading to learn more about the unfolding case.
Jonathan Majors' Attorney Claims The DA's Office Are On A 'Witch Hunt
Tuesday, May 9, marked the "Lovecraft Country" star's first day in court on assault and harassment charges. However, PEOPLE revealed the 33-year-old virtually attended the hearing at the Manhattan Criminal Court in New York City.
The Santa Barbara native left the talking to his defense counsel, only speaking up to confirm to Judge Rachel S. Pauley that he had consented to a virtual appearance. This move seemingly spared the TV personality from losing his composure in person as the Manhattan District Attorney's office had revised their charges against him.
During the hearing, the prosecutors revealed a superseding complaint allegedly stemming from the alleged victim's narrative. The DA slammed the Black Reel Award winner with a third-degree assault charge, an accusation the entertainer would physically face in court.
Judge Pauley ordered the "Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania" actor to appear in person at the next hearing, scheduled for June 13. The legal umpire would also decide a motion requested by the defense at the upcoming trial.
Although the father-of-one has been relatively quiet about his ongoing dilemma, the same could not be said for his attorney, Priya Chaudhry. The female lawyer has actively supported her client, claiming his innocence at every opportunity.
Following the hearing, the legal representative called out the DA's office for pursuing a case based on false allegations. According to the defense counsel, she and her team had provided "irrefutable evidence" that disputed the alleged victim's accusations.
Chaudhry declared that prosecutors were in cahoots with the woman as they refused to acknowledge the truth and revised the case's charges to fit the 30-year-old female's narrative. "Yet this false case continues the woman's claimed location shifts, and her story morphs," the attorney noted in her statement.
"This is a witch hunt against Jonathan Majors, driven by baseless claims. Instead of dismissing the allegations in the face of the woman's clear lies, the DA has adjusted the charges to match the woman's new lies," the actor's representative claimed.
Additionally, Chaudhry reaffirmed her client's innocence in her statement, revealing that they had "more video evidence" to support their stance. However, they were "hesitant to share it, for fear the DA will tip the woman off to change her story again."
The Independent Spirit Award Nominee Accepted His Alleged Victim's Request For Protection
Last month, the Manhattan District Attorney's Office announced that the alleged victim in the domestic violence case was granted a temporary order of protection. However, their statement revealed that Majors' supported the woman's decision.
"Today, a judge granted the victim a Full Temporary Order of Protection, per the People's request and with the consent of defense counsel. (At the time of arraignment, a Limited Temporary Order of Protection was granted,)." the DA's statement read.
The request officially stopped all communication between the parties, including direct and third-party contact. The ban would reportedly remain in effect until their next court date. The Marvel star's lawyer also confirmed that her client wanted distance from the alleged victim.
In a statement shared on Twitter, Chaudhry explained that "Mr. Majors wants nothing to do with the woman who assaulted him." According to the attorney, the DA's office broke their "own policy of not commenting to the press" by revealing what she claimed was a "non-event (a consented, standard order of protection)."
The legal representative slammed prosecutors for being hell-bent on damaging the TV personality's reputation by having "no rational reason" to deny the evidence of Majors' innocence.
This proof of righteousness included witness statements and a forensic opinion from a Board Certified Emergency Medicine Doctor and Trauma Specialist.
