ESPN News Services5:54 PM ET2 Minute Read
AUSTIN, Texas — A Texas prosecutor on Wednesday moved to dismiss a domestic violence case against former Longhorns men’s basketball coach Chris Beard, in part because of the alleged victim’s desire not to press charges.
Travis County District Attorney Jose Garza said that after reviewing the evidence and considering the wishes of Randi Trew, Beard’s fiancé, his office determined that the charges of assault by strangulation/asphyxia — domestic violence — did not can be proven beyond a doubt.
Beard was arrested December 12 after Trew called 911 and told officers Beard had strangled, bitten, and punched her during a confrontation at his home. She later said that Beard acted in self-defense and that she never wanted him to be prosecuted.
“Everyone knows that Coach Beard has maintained his absolute innocence since his arrest,” said Perry Minton, Beard’s attorney. “Furthermore, this district attorney has a well-deserved reputation for being very strict in domestic violence cases. The fact that Mr Garza’s review led to this finding so quickly says a lot. We are very pleased.”
Garza defended his office’s record of prosecuting domestic violence cases, noting that it has won more than 1,000 convictions in domestic violence cases since 2021, with more than 200 people jailed.
“Our office takes all cases of domestic violence seriously in order to bring victims justice,” Garza said. “In each case, we have a duty to evaluate the facts and evidence and do our best to come to a conclusion that keeps the victim and our community safe.”
According to the police affidavit in support of Beard’s arrest, Trew initially told officers he strangled her from behind to the point where she couldn’t breathe for several seconds. The affidavit listed several visible signs of an altercation, including bite marks on her arm and abrasions on her face and leg.
According to the affidavit, Trew initially told police, “He choked me, bit me, bruised me all over my leg, threw me around and went insane.” Her later testimony did not address why she called 911 or any of the physical ones Injuries described in the police report.
Texas suspended Beard without pay the day of his arrest. He was fired on Jan. 5 when Texas officials said Beard’s attorney was “unfit” to run the program.
A spokesman for the University of Texas declined to comment Wednesday.
Beard had five years left on a guaranteed seven-year contract, which included a provision that said he could be fired for cause if charged with a felony or engaged in other conduct not conducive to his position or that was ill-mannered the university affected.
The university’s vice president of legal affairs, Jim Davis, wrote in a letter to Beard’s attorney on the day of the coach’s firing that Beard had “exhibited unacceptable conduct that renders him unfit to serve as head coach at our university.” Whether Beard was ultimately charged would not determine whether Beard engaged in school improper conduct, Davis wrote.
Interim coach Rodney Terry has been in charge of the Longhorns since December 12. They are ranked 6th in the latest Associated Press poll and share first place in the Big 12.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.