CINCINNATI — Bengals running back Joe Mixon was found not guilty of an aggravated menacing charge that stemmed from allegations he'd pointed a gun at a woman over a traffic dispute.
The trial stretched into four days, as the prosecution called multiple witnesses to testify about the events that unfolded the day of the alleged incident.
When asked about the verdict, defense attorneys said, "It's just time to move on."
Not long after the verdict was announced, the Cincinnati Bengals released a statement, saying they're looking forward to Mixon being an important part of the team in the coming season.
"Since he joined the organization in 2017, Joe Mixon has been a valuable part of the Cincinnati Bengals," reads the statement. "Joe has been a top level running back with multiple 1000-yard rushing seasons, and he has been an even better teammate enjoying real popularity among his peers. During the past seven years, Joe has been active with the community, and his constant smile and energy have made him a favorite among thousands of fans. The organization is pleased that this matter is now behind everyone, and we look forward to an exciting season with Joe being an important part of the football team.”
Defense attorneys didn't call any witnesses for their side, including Mixon.
The defense was expected to have a chance to call its witnesses Wednesday but the entirety of the day was taken up by the state's witness, a Cincinnati police sergeant.
The Sgt. confirms this was not intended to be a complete summary, just a very rough outline. Said it could just as easily have been a one-liner. @WCPO
— Madeline Ottilie (@OttilieMadeline) August 17, 2023
Closing arguments followed the officer's testimony, with the state reiterating its argument that claims from Ashley Meek, the alleged victim, have been corroborated by testimony heard throughout the trial.
The defense argued in turn that the alleged victim was angry and spoke to Mixon in a way that had racial overtones that day.
Defense rehashing testimony that Mixon stopped at a bakery minutes before the alleged incident, taking pictures with fans and offering money to someone down on their luck. While instead, defense said alleged victim has acknowledged she always chooses anger over fear. @WCPO
— Madeline Ottilie (@OttilieMadeline) August 17, 2023
Defense attorneys also claim there's no proof Mixon has ever carried a gun in his vehicle, telling the court the prosecution only presumed that was the case because Mixon is a legal gun owner. They also argued Mixon had just left a football stadium, where firearms are not permitted.
In their rebuttal, prosecutors dismissed the notion that the alleged victim's interactions with Mixon that day had anything to do with race and instead pointed to surveillance footage shown throughout trial they said corroborates Meek's story.
State said the alleged victim has no motivate to make this up. Said she was completely unaware that the other driver was Joe Mixon until initial charges were filed. @WCPO
— Madeline Ottilie (@OttilieMadeline) August 17, 2023
Closing arguments concluded Thursday morning.
In her verdict, the judge noted she was convinced that Mixon and Meek had encountered each other. However, she did not find enough evidence that Mixon was guilty of a crime.
"The state bears the burden of proving whether a crime occurred during that interval beyond a reasonable doubt," said Judge Gwen Bender. "I cannot say that the city sustained its burden."
The trial was a bench trial, meaning the judge determined its outcome instead of a jury of Mixon's peers. The judge determined the proceedings would not be allowed to be live-streamed; in addition, every witness testifying opted out of audio and video recording, so none of their testimonies could be filmed.
In January, Meek accused Mixon of pointing a firearm at her and stating, "You should be popped in the face. I should shoot you, the police can't (sic) get me," according to court documents. The offense was alleged to have happened the day before Cincinnati took on the Buffalo Bills in the divisional round of the playoffs.
The charges against Mixon were initially dropped in February before a charge was refiled in April.
After the charge was refiled, Mixon appeared in court and pleaded not guilty. The charge is a first-degree misdemeanor and could carry a maximum sentence of 180 days, a maximum fine of $1000 and a maximum of five years of probation in Ohio.
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