Prosecutors Drop Assault Charge Against Jeurys Familia

A New Jersey prosecutor on Thursday dismissed a simple assault charge against Mets closer Jeurys Familia, the New York Daily News reported.

The charge, which stemmed from an alleged incident involving Familia’s wife on Oct. 31, carries a maximum penalty of six months in jail, a $1,000 fine and two years’ probation.

According to the newspaper, prosecutor Arthur Balsamo met with Familia’s wife, Bianca Rivas, and her lawyer, before going in front of Judge John DeSheplo.

New Jersey police arrested Familia, 27, on Oct. 31 after he allegedly caused “bodily injury to another.”

But at Familia’s first court appearance on Nov. 10, Rivas and her lawyer first asked for a restraining order to be lifted and later asked for charges to be dropped, the newspaper reported.

Although Familia will not be prosecuted, he could face punishment from Major League Baseball under its new Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Policy. Commissioner Rob Manfred earlier this season suspended Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman for 30 games after his alleged involvement in a domestic dispute, although Broward County (Fla.) prosecutors did not charge him. Manfred also suspended Mets shortstop Jose Reyes for his alleged incident with his wife, although Reyes was ultimately not charged by prosecutors.

Hector Olivera was suspended 82 games by MLB and later convicted of misdemeanor domestic assault stemming from an incident at an Arlington, Va., hotel in April.

Following Familia’s arrest in October, an MLB spokesman said, “We are aware and investigating the facts.”

Familia, who signed with the Mets in 2007 from the Dominican Republic, has been one the game’s best closers the past two seasons, amassing 94 saves in that time. He has, however, had poor outings in the past two postseasons, blowing three saves in the 2015 World Series and allowing a three-run home run to Conor Gillaspie in the ninth inning last month as the Mets lost the Wild Card Game to the Giants, 3-0.

Familia replaced Jenrry Mejia as the Mets’ closer in 2015. Mejia, who had 28 saves in 2014, was hit with a permanent ban in February following a third positive test for performance-enhancing drugs.