Actor Jonathan Majors has been found guilty of assaulting and harassing his ex-girlfriend, the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office said Monday.
Majors, 34, was found guilty of assault in the third degree and harassment in the second degree by a Manhattan court jury Monday afternoon. Judge Michael Gaffey set a sentencing date of Feb. 6.
In a statement, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said the trial illustrated a cycle of psychological and emotional abuse “far too common across the many intimate partner violence cases we see each and every day.”
“Today, a jury determined that pattern of abuse and coercion culminated with Mr. Majors assaulting and harassing his girlfriend,” the statement said.
Majors’ criminal trial started on Dec. 4, with defense and prosecutors resting their cases last Thursday. Gothamist is not naming his accuser because she is a domestic violence victim.
Prosecutors said Majors attacked the woman in the back of a car in Manhattan in March after the pair argued when the woman saw a text Majors received from another woman. Police were called and found the woman with cuts, bruises, and a broken finger, NPR reported. Majors was arrested by NYPD officers, NPR reported.
During the trial, the jury heard an audio clip of Majors and the woman arguing in September, and texts between the then-couple where the pair discussed a prior incident in which the woman had suffered head injuries, and Majors begged her not to get medical treatment as it could “lead to an investigation,” the Associated Press reported.
Defense lawyer Priya Chaudhry argued that the woman sought retribution against Majors due to their failing relationship, NPR reported. Chaudhry did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the verdict.
After Majors was arrested in March, he filed a counter complaint against the woman. But in an unusual twist, the Manhattan district attorney’s office said it would decline to pursue criminal charges against her, saying it didn’t believe she had committed a crime.
Majors was charged with assault in the third degree with intent to cause physical injury, assault in the third degree recklessly causing physical injury, aggravated harassment in the second degree and harassment in the second degree.
Majors was a rising Hollywood star before his arrest. He was known for his roles in “Lovecraft Country” and “Creed III,” among other TV shows and movies, and was cast to star as Kang the Conqueror in an upcoming Marvel Cinematic Universe movie.
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