Josh Hamilton indicted on felony charge of child abuse

Former Los Angeles Angels star, Josh Hamilton, has been indicted for child abuse from an arrest made in September involving his oldest daughter.

Josh Hamilton, who played for the Angels for two seasons in 2013 and 2014, was indicted on Monday for a felony charge of child abuse. According to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Hamilton was indicted on one count of injury to a child with intentional bodily injury, stemming from an incident involving his oldest daughter on September 30.

Hamilton pleaded not guilty to the charge in late October and was released from prison on a $35,000 bond, per a local CBS affiliate.

According to the arrest warrant affidavit, Hamilton allegedly became upset with his oldest daughter and threw a water bottle at her chest. The confrontation escalated when he allegedly pulled a chair out from under her and bruised her hip. He proceeded to carry her up to her bedroom, according to the affidavit, where he pinned her down on her bed and continued to abuse her by hitting her legs with both a closed fist and open hand.

According to a CBS report from Dallas Fort-Worth, Hamilton told his daughter during the incident, “I hope you go in front of the f*cking judge and tell him what a terrible dad I am so I don’t have to see you anymore and you don’t ever have to come to my house again.”

Hamilton, who has struggled throughout his life with substance abuse issues, signed a five-year, $125 million contract with the Angels before the 2013 season. The former MVP lasted two seasons in Anaheim, before suffering a relapse involving the use of cocaine and alcohol, and was traded back to the Texas Rangers.

The alleged incident with his daughter happened two days after he was celebrated by the Texas Rangers as part of The Globe Life Park All-Time Team during a parade after the final game at the ballpark.

The court case is currently on hold due to the novel coronavirus.