Pittsburgh Steelers' Najeh Davenport Acquitted In Domestic Case

Cleveland, Oh (AHN) - Steelers' running back Najeh Davenport has been found by a jury not guilty Wednesday of all criminal charges filed against him in connection with a domestic violence incident stemming from a child custody issue.

A local jury composed of five women and three men has cleared the Steelers backup tailback last night of all three counts of demeanor. Davenport is charged with domestic violence, child endangerment and unlawful restraint stemming from a child custody dispute on Oct 4.

According to the police, Person said that Davenport hit her and then choked her when she tried to remove their 5-year old son from his vehicle because he made threats about not returning the child. Davenport denied the accusations.

Davenport, 29, could have faced a maximum of 180 days in jail plus a fine of $1,000 each for the first-degree misdemeanors of domestic violence and child endangering if convicted. While a maximum of 60 days plus a $500 fine for the third-degree misdemeanor count of unlawful restraint could have been meted on him had the jury found otherwise. The NFL also could have issued a suspension for a many as four games without pay.

The Steelers has declined to issue comment on Davenport's case.

The Cleveland incident is the second public run-in by Davenport with the law. In 2002, Davenport was charged with a second-degree felony count of burglary and a misdemeanor count of criminal mischief just weeks before being drafted by the Green Bay Packers. The charges were later dropped after Davenport agreed to do community service.

Davenport, who is expected to earn $1 million in 2008, is the fourth player from the Pittsburgh Steelers to be involved in a domestic violence incident since 2006. He is in his last two years of his contract with the Steelers.

With the acquittals, Davenport is expected to regain partial custody of his 5-year old son, Najeh, Jr. Davenport was barred to see his son except for limited supervised Justice-Center visits while the case was going on.