UT Men's Head Basketball Coach Chris Beard arrested for alleged domestic violence | KVUE
Well, good morning, everybody. 847, we’re breaking into your coverage this morning. The University of Texas head men’s basketball coach, Chris Beard was arrested and charged with assault on a family member early this morning. This is absolutely breaking. According to the Austin Police Department, this happened again earlier this morning. Investigative reporter Tony Poleski is the one who broke this news on Twitter this morning and joins us live on the phone. Tony, walk me through what you found out. How you found out? So Rob, certainly this information is sending shockwaves throughout the sports community this morning. But
authorities confirmed that they received a 911 call at 2:07 this morning from a hole in Tarrytown. That call was characterized as a disturbance urgent call. That is how police responded. And when they got there, we are told that they soon arrested Chris Beard and charged him with assault on a family member, according to police. This is a thought involves the choking of a person inside that home. What I can tell you right now is that Chris Beard remained in the Travis County Jail that is in downtown Austin. Rob he has not yet seen a judge
to have his bond set. That is a process that can take several hours once a person is actually booked into jail. We know that Beard
are aware of the situation and that they are monitoring the legal process at this time problem. Are you followed, obviously several arrests of individuals, maybe not this high profile, but what is the normal process? You know, Bond being said, is that an instant thing where they just can get out? In this case, the coach could possibly get out as soon as early this morning. Or is this something that might take a little bit longer? Yes. So let me tell you exactly what is happening inside the jail right now. Authorities are trying to determine whether or
not coach beard may meet the term for being released on a personal bond where he would just pay a very nominal fee and be released. It is very typical in situations like this, particularly involving allegations of family violence, for a judge to put strict order on that person. So for example. They likely will face a stay away order, meaning that they are not allowed to have any sort of contact or being physical proximity of a of an alleged victim. In this case that is very typical and these types of family assault allegations. In addition to
that he may also have to in some cases where an ankle monitor. Again if that is the case he may also they actually have to pay a bond that is what. The judge will have to decide sometime today in which he may have to pay some some degree of money in order for for him to be released from jail. Again, those are the types of decisions that are being made. But Rob, it is important to note that this is a felony charge. This is a third degree felony charge by which a person who is convicted
can face up to up to 10 years in prison. But again. A long way from that. We’re still just in the very early stages of trying to figure out the exact nature of the allegations. Again, this does involve an allegation of choking, but beyond that we really do not know additional information at this time. It does obviously change it dramatically going from a misdemeanor to a felony. Obviously we’re speculating being this early, but the the personal bond, do you have any, in your experience you followed this obviously for years for cases like this, what that
bond would be? In a felony, for example, third degree felony like this. Yeah, it’s it’s not uncommon at all, particularly here in Travis County, for a person to be released on a personal bond. Obviously, the more serious the offense. Those are the types of considerations that a judge would make in terms of whether or not to issue someone a personal bond and allow them to be released on a personal bond. But again, once he is released, this is a process that could take some period of time to wind its way through the judicial system. Through
the criminal justice system here in Travis County, to see what an outcome may be, whether or not there could be a plea, whether or not it could possibly go to trial. Again, those are all decisions that would be made sometime down the line. We’re we’re way too early really to be talking about how this case could go. But but again, we know that he does remain in jail here in Travis County this morning. Again, again, we’re speculating, but these cases, if you’re talking about felonies, how long is the process normally from from start to finish,
if it does in fact go to trial, for example, in your history, in your experience. Ohh, this is a process that can take some period of time. We’re talking maybe up to a couple of years and some cases of course, we also know that because of the COVID-19 pandemic there is now a a traffic jam, a backlog of of cases in the criminal justice system. So it is definitely possible that this is not something that may be reach off resolved in in short order. Depending on on how it goes. Alright, I also rob, I also
wanna .1 wanna point out that after a person is arrested, prosecutors will then review the information as well to determine how they want to proceed with the case. We have seen cases you know be dropped at that point when when they are screened by prosecutors that is not typical. Typically though if if prosecutors have reason to believe that if that if probable cause. Did those cases do go forward? But again, this is a process that will now take a period of time, potentially a substantial period of time. Tony Poletski, again breaking the news this morning
that UT basketball coach Chris Beard was arrested. Assault on a family member. That is a felony. We’re going to follow you on Twitter. He’s got the latest, obviously. Tony Poletski, K’s Tony poleski. Thank you very much. We’re going to go to break and come back in just a few minutes. Stay with us.
