Tennessee sophomore defensive back Bryce Thompson appeared in court again on Monday, and his domestic assault charge stemming from an incident in late August was dismissed at the hearing.
According to the Knoxville News Sentinel, Thompson’s charges were dropped because the victim in the case, who has identified herself as Thompson’s girlfriend, didn’t fear for her physical safety during the altercation and wished to see the charges dismissed against Thompson.
“There was no point during the argument that I was scared or felt like he was going to hurt me, and he never touched me,” the woman testified. “It just was a little bit louder.”
John Valliant, Thompson’s attorney, was adamant from the start that the charges shouldn’t stick against the sophomore cornerback.
“There wasn’t a crime committed. It had to be dismissed,” Valliant said after Monday’s hearing. “There is not much more I can say than that. From the very beginning, she (Thompson’s girlfriend) has — even on the day of the incident — she said the same thing then that she said today.
“This thing that he was charged with, fear is a key element of it. You have to be afraid.”
Thompson was suspended indefinitely by Tennessee head coach Jeremy Pruitt on August 26th after an incident occurred the previous weekend involving the woman and Thompson. The Vol cornerback was charged with domestic assault following the incident. Pruitt and Tennessee announced two weeks ago that Thompson had been cleared to return to practice with the Vols, and after sitting out the UT-Chattanooga game despite being reinstated to the team, Thompson made his 2019 season debut this past weekend against Florida.
Now, that charge has been dismissed.
According to the Knox County Sheriff’s Office, Thompson and the woman were arguing at the Stokley Hall Dorms on UT’s campus. Thompson was allegedly overheard threatening the woman, and a witness claims he threatened to “shoot up the school” as well.
The responding officer says damage to the dorm hall building was seen, and a gate was ripped off its hinges. There was damage to the sheetrock where the gate had apparently impacted the wall. Thompson stated that he fell into the gate, causing it to rip off from its hinges. The sophomore DB also claimed to have fallen down the stairs with the gate, though the arrest report states that there were no marks on Thompson to indicate this happened.
After being read his Miranda Rights, Thompson admitted that the gate broke as he tried to pull it upwards, and he let it fall down the stairs.
According to a witness who called 911, Thompson was overheard saying he was going to “slap the (expletive) out of you” to the woman. Officers separated Thompson and the woman involved with the altercation, and one of the officers described Thompson as “extremely upset and agitated” in a stairwell of Stokely Hall.
Thompson admitted to arguing with the woman, but he denied making any physical contact with her and denied making any verbal threats.
Both Thompson and the woman involved in the incident confirmed that they have been in a relationship with one another for four years, and the two were engaged in a sexual relationship. The woman confirmed Thompson’s statement about their relationship in her written statement to the officers.
After receiving statements from witnesses and assessing the situation, Thompson was arrested and charged with domestic assault. No citation was issued for domestic violence.
Thompson was arrested and released from jail overnight after the altercation. The charges have now been dropped as well.
As a true freshman, Thompson played in all 12 games for the Vols and made 10 starts. He was named a Freshman All-American by the Football Writers Association of America and was selected to the 2018 SEC All-Freshman Team. Thompson was one of three true freshmen to earn starts in the secondary for the Vols in 2018.
Thompson finished his freshman campaign with 34 tackles, four tackles for loss, a sack, three interceptions, 10 passes defended, and a forced fumble. He also returned four kick-offs for an average of 25 yards a return.
One Response
Dude should have been held accountable and this is what is exactly wrong with college football athletes all because if the childish game they have a skill set for. In the very least he should be charged with conveying threats, vandalism and associated destruction of property. Instead, the typical gf or wife drops the charges and stats wise many if these women end up dead in the long run. He has a problem and needs help with his anger.