Denver Broncos linebacker Jonathon Cooper pleaded not guilty charges at his arraignment today in Douglas County.
Denver Broncos linebacker Jonathon Cooper pleaded not guilty to a felony assault charge related to his two arrests related to a domestic violence incident back in June, as he appeared in a Douglas County District Court this afternoonm according to a report from Katie Langford and Parker Gabriel of the Denver Post.
Cooper did not speak during the hearing, per the report, as he appeared next to his lawyer, Harvey Steinberg, who asked for a trial as soon as possible because of the case’s “very negative impact on my client’s ability to make a living.”
“We would like to resolve this quickly,” he told District Court Judge Daniel Warhola.
Cooper’s trial has now been set for Nov. 10, 12 and 13.
The two arrests occurred back on June 5 and June 12 following an argument with his now former girlfriend that eventually resulted in a felony assault charge alleging strangulation, according to court records and arrest affidavits.
He was arrested again a week later for violating a protection order after he sent his girlfriend 20 unreturned messages, some graphic in nature, and knocked on her apartment door for “5-10 minutes,” according to a separate arrest affidavit.
The Broncos have supported Cooper throughout his post-arrest legal process. Rather than release him, he went to an inpatient clinic near Vail for more than a month and then reported with the rest of the Broncos veterans for training camp on July 29.
He is set to appear in court again on Sept. 14.
Cooper’s fate on the field is also fraught with uncertainty. He was placed on the commissioner’s exempt list yesterday as roster cutdowns occurred as a result, which means he’s basically on paid leave. He can attend meetings, but Cooper can’t practice with the team or play in games.
“It’s part of the process,” Broncos general manager George Paton said Sunday evening after the team’s initial roster was set. “We continue to take this very seriously. We’re going to monitor all the legal developments and continue to support Jonathon.
“Jonathon’s worked very hard to better himself and it’ll be good to have him in the building, be in meetings and just be a part of the team.”
The league typically doesn’t finalize its disciplinary procedures against a player until the prosecution is concluded, but there are exceptions to that rule, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, who hinted that there are certain cases where the NFL treat paid leave as an advanced suspension. The Broncos open their season on Monday, Sept. 14 against the Kansas City Chiefs.
