Jaguars defensive end Dante Fowler has been formally charged on misdemeanor counts of battery, criminal mischief and petit theft after a July incident in which he allegedly punched a man who criticized his driving before stomping on his glasses and tossing his recently purchased liquor in a nearby lake.
The charges came two weeks ago but were not made public until today. Fowler was at the Jaguars facility this afternoon, though he was not practicing, according to News 4 Jacksonville. He issued an apology last month, admitting that he took the wrong approach to the situation and saying that he’s a better person now.
Fowler could face up to a year in jail if convicted, along with any disciplinary action the NFL might choose to take. He’s set to be arraigned September 11, the day after the Jaguars’ first regular season game.
According to the initial arrest affidavit and police statement, Fowler was driving in the parking lot of a St. Petersburg apartment complex when a man walking by “made a comment” about his driving. Fowler allegedly then got out of his car, hit the man, knocked his glasses off and stomped on them. He proceeded to take a bag of groceries the man had been carrying—including some just-purchased liquor—and threw it in a nearby lake.