Josh Hamilton, a former Major League Baseball player, has pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge after he was accused of hitting one of his daughters in 2019, according to the Tarrant County District Attorney’s office.
The Tarrant County DA’s office wrote on Twitter that Josh Hamilton, a former Texas Rangers outfielder, pleaded guilty to unlawful restraint, a Class A Misdemeanor, before Judge Mike Thomas on February 22.
Terms of the plea agreement require Josh Hamilton to pay court costs and a $500 fine. He must also take anger management, parenting classes, and perform community service.
According to the Dallas Morning News, a Tarrant County grand jury indicted Hamilton on a felony charge of injury to a child in April 2020.
According to an arrest warrant, Hamilton’s daughter told police that he threw a full water bottle at her while cursing and yelling after he got angry at something she said.
The girl told police that Josh Hamilton then pulled a chair out from under her before yanking her to the floor. She said Hamilton picked her up, carried her over his shoulder, and carried her to her bedroom.
According to the affidavit, Josh Hamilton pinned the girl down and hit her legs with one hand. The girl claimed he ripped her sweatshirt while trying to pick her up by it.
“I hope you go in front of the [expletive] Judge and tell him what a terrible dad I am so I don’t have to see you anymore,” The girl told police that Hamilton said after he stopped hitting her.
The child’s mother, Katie Hamilton, requested a protective order on behalf of her child after she learned of the incident. Katie and Josh divorced in 2015.