Tarrant County grand jury indicts TCU ex KaVontae Turpin on misdemeanor assault charge

Former TCU football player KaVontae Turpin was indicted on a misdemeanor charge of assault with bodily injury last month, a spokeswoman for the Tarrant County district attorney’s office said.

A trial date has not been set. Turpin faces a Class A misdemeanor charge and, if convicted, a maximum one year in prison and $4,000 fine.

Turpin’s attorney, Brandon Barnett of Fort Worth’s Barnett Howard and Williams, declined comment.

Turpin is accused of dragging his girlfriend, Raiesha Atwater, across a parking lot and slamming her to the ground on Oct. 20, 2018, at an apartment complex at 3517 South University Drive.

No photos of Atwater were taken by police that night.

Turpin was also arrested in March 2018 in New Mexico on domestic violence charges involving Atwater. A pre-trial hearing in Las Cruces, N.M., is scheduled for April 18.

TCU dismissed Turpin after his arrest in October. The football coaching staff said it was not aware of the New Mexico charges until the news of his Fort Worth arrest.

The domestic violence issues have put Turpin’s NFL dreams in jeopardy.

TCU did not allow him to participate in its Pro Day last month, and he held his own at Paschal High School afterward. Several of Turpin’s former teammates showed up in support.

Turpin impressed with his speed and agility, and is hopeful a team will give him an opportunity. Getting his legal issues resolved favorably is a must for him to pursue a professional career.

Turpin, a dynamic playmaker with the ball in his hands, is TCU’s all-time leader in return touchdowns. At 5-foot-7, 160 pounds, his size is not ideal for the pro level. That, coupled with the legal problems, leaves Turpin as a long shot to get drafted later this month.

But NFL teams covet speed, and have shown a willingness to take bring in players with red flags.

Turpin worked out for four teams at his own Pro Day, including the Seattle Seahawks, Dallas Cowboys, Oakland Raiders and Washington Redskins, and had a workout scheduled with the Cincinnati Bengals earlier this month.

This story was originally published April 9, 2019 at 9:14 AM.