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Joe Mixon was not found guilty. In fact, the Cincinnati Bengals running back did not have any charges filed against him at all with the Hamilton County Prosecution. He avoided any real punishment for the incident.
Per Tom Pelissero, Mixon's agent released a statement after no charges were filed. In it, he detailed the night of the incident and how things played out, showcasing Mixon's innocence.
The statement reads:
"We have been informed by Hamilton County Prosecutor Melissa Powers and the Hamilton County Sherriff's Office that no charges will be filed against Joe Mixon... Since the incident, there has been a great deal of coverage filled with inaccurate reports, misinformation and just plain fabrications... Joe became the victim of multiple threats of physical harm and harassment on social media."
The statement continued:
"On the night of the incident, a number of vehicles pulled up in front of Joe's house and blocked the street... Joe and his physical therapist felt threatened and feared for their safety... He did not intend to threaten anyone, nor did he. He did not intend to shoot anyone, nor did he."
It detailed the events of the evening, which occurred because of a game the young adults were playing:
"When another individual discharged a firearm, Joe interceded to stop the young person discharging a firearm... It is now understood that the young adults were playing a game which involves running around neighborhoods performing paramilitary movements with plastic guns designed to look like real weapons... This is clearly a serious issue."
Mixon may still face punishment from the NFL, but he is avoiding legal punishment for now.
Will the NFL suspend Joe Mixon?
The NFL has an inconsistent track record with legal troubles for its players. Alvin Kamara has still avoided suspension for an assault in Las Vegas, and other stars were hit with lengthy punishments.
It remains to be seen what the NFL will do, but since the Bengals star had no charges filed against him, the league is unlikely to punish him. Since he hasn't been found guilty of any crimes, a suspension would be a bit of an overreaction.
