Former Bronco guilty of assault
Ivan Moreno, Rocky Mountain News
Published February 7, 2006 at midnight
Former Denver Broncos cornerback Willie Middlebrooks pleaded guilty Monday to a third-degree assault charge after a woman accused the player last year of hitting and trying to choke her.
Middlebrooks received an 18-month deferred sentence and was ordered to attend 36 weeks of domestic violence classes, according to Arapahoe County District Attorney spokeswoman Kathleen Walsh.
Arapahoe County sheriff's deputies arrested Middlebrooks on Jan. 1, 2005, after his then-girlfriend said the football player had tried to choke her, pulled her hair and hit her in the face while she stayed at his Aurora home.
The woman told authorities she was out with Middlebrooks on New Year's Eve when she got into an argument with him.
She said she went to his home to sleep but was awakened when the football player arrived home, still angry, about 4 a.m., according to the arrest affidavit.
Middlebrooks was accused of grabbing the woman by her neck and lifting her until her feet were off the ground, according to the affidavit.
The Broncos traded Middlebrooks before training camp this season to the San Francisco 49ers.
Although Middlebrooks was the Broncos first choice in the 2001 draft, he only started two games and was regularly on the team's injured list.
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