Former Minnesota Vikings defensive back Fred Smoot was acquitted of misdemeanor domestic assault following a bench trial in Loudoun County, Virginia.
Smoot, 35, played for two seasons with the Vikings (2005-06). He was arrested in November when police were called to a home in Ashburn, Virginia, after his former girlfriend, Valerie Jackson, said she was grabbed during an altercation with Smoot.
According to the Associated Press, the judge who acquitted Smoot said the evidence in the case amounted to “he said, she said.”
WNEW reports Smoot testified in his own defense Monday and denied hitting his former girlfriend, but admitted to kicking down a bathroom door to get a set of car keys from her.
Following the verdict there was plenty of reaction outside of the courthouse.
Former Redskin Fred Smoot's ex-gf Valerie Jackson: "I know what happened, he knows what happened the truth is the truth." @wusa9 at 6p
— Debra Alfarone (@DebraAlfarone) January 5, 2015
Lawyer for Former #Redskin Fred Smoot says ex-gf was "opportunist" looking for "meal-ticket" Hear what she says at 6p on @wusa9
— Debra Alfarone (@DebraAlfarone) January 5, 2015
Prior to his stint in Minnesota, Smoot spent four seasons with the Redskins. He returned to Washington to finish his career.
Most recently, Smoot had been making appearances on radio and television stations in Washington, but was suspended from those jobs when the allegations surfaced.
Former Redskin Fred Smoot: "I just want to get my life back" @wusa9
— Debra Alfarone (@DebraAlfarone) January 5, 2015
“Fred has been a contributor to the station and there are no plans for him to appear in the future,” WJFK-FM Program Director Chris Kinard told WNEW.
In 2005, Smoot was part of a group of Vikings who faced charges from the infamous “Love Boat Scandal.”
