Former Dodger Julio Uras charged with five misdemeanors stemming from 2023 arrest

Jack Harris Bill Shaikin April 9, 2024

Former Dodgers pitcher Julio Uras has been charged with five misdemeanors stemming from his arrest for suspicion of domestic violence last September, a spokesperson from the Los Angeles City Attorneys office confirmed Tuesday.

The charges include one count of spousal battery, two counts of domestic battery involving dating relationship, one count of false imprisonment and one count of assault. An arraignment is scheduled for May 2.

Uras, 27, was just months away from what was expected to be a lucrative free agency when he was arrested outside BMO Stadium following an LAFC game on Sept. 3 of last year. That night, a person alerted police that a man and a woman were involved in a physical altercation, according to a report from the Exposition Park Department of Public Safety.

Exposition Park police officers approached Uras and the woman his wife, Daisy and determined a physical altercation had occurred, the report said. He was then taken into custody and released the next morning on $50,000 bail.

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Uras spent the remainder of last season which began with his first career opening day start for the Dodgers on administrative leave before his contract expired in early November.

The pitcher was not signed by another team this offseason. He could face discipline from Major League Baseball, which is investigating whether he violated the leagues domestic violence and sexual assault policy for the second time in his career.

Uras was suspended 20 games in 2019 after being arrested but not charged on misdemeanor suspicion of domestic violence.

No player has been suspended twice under MLB’s domestic violence and sexual assault policy.

According to a person with knowledge of the situation not authorized to speak publicly, Uras has not yet been interviewed by the league. Players are typically advised not to talk to league investigators until the legal process has played out, since anything they say could be used against them in court.

“Our investigation is ongoing,” an MLB spokesman said Tuesday. “We have no further comment.”

A law enforcement investigation into the incident was completed by officers from the California Department of Public Safety in December. The probe included cellphone footage of the alleged incident captured by a bystander.

In January, the Los Angeles County District Attorneys office declined to charge Uras with a felony, finding that he had pushed his wife against a fence and pulled her by the hair or shoulders, but that neither the victims injuries nor the defendants criminal history justify a felony filing.

The case was then passed to the City Attorneys office, which filed its charges with the Los Angeles Superior Court on Monday, according to spokesperson Ivor Pine.

Former Dodgers pitcher Julio Uras won’t face felony charge

Lou Shapiro, a veteran Los Angeles criminal defense attorney, said he did not anticipate Urias serving any jail time if convicted. Shapiro said the outcome could turn on what Urias’ wife might say in testimony, particularly with regard to the severity of any injuries.

In lieu of jail or in addition to it Shapiro said the court would have the option to order Urias to pay fines, do community service and/or complete a 52-week domestic violence counseling program.

After a similar incident in 2019, prosecutors agreed not to file charges if Urias agreed to complete a counseling program. Because charges were not filed then, Shapiro said, the court would consider this incident to be a first offense.

“I would be shocked if he went to jail on a first offense,” Shapiro said.