*A judge on Thursday dismissed domestic violence charges against Ray Rice, who was caught on a surveillance camera knocking his then-fiancee unconscious in a hotel elevator last year.
Judge Michael Donio signed the order after the Atlantic County prosecutor told him the former Baltimore Ravens running back had completed the terms of his pretrial intervention, reports the AP.
Under terms of the program, Rice paid $125 in fines and received anger management counseling.
Rice was charged with third-degree aggravated assault. His attorney described what happened in February 2014 at Atlantic City’s Revel Casino Hotel as ”little more than a misunderstanding.” However, TMZ released videos that showed him dragging his fiancee, Janay Palmer, out of the elevator after he struck her.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell initially suspended Rice for two games, then suspended him indefinitely after a second video revealed the knockout punch.
Rice appealed, and an arbitrator reinstated him. However, Rice has yet to sign with a team.
Of the 15,029 people charged with assault in domestic violence cases from 2010 to 2013, 8,203 had their cases dismissed or downgraded to a lower court, according to the data provided by the state judiciary. Nearly 3,100 pleaded guilty, 13 were found guilty at trial and nine were found not guilty.
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