LOS ANGELES (CNS) - USC wide receiver Joseph Lewis IV was charged today with five misdemeanors stemming from two alleged domestic violence attacks in February.
Lewis, 18, was charged with a single count of domestic battery with an injury for an alleged attack on Feb. 5, along with two counts of domestic battery with an injury and single counts of domestic battery without an injury and false imprisonment for an alleged Feb. 11 attack.
He pleaded not guilty at his arraignment Tuesday morning in downtown Los Angeles. He is due back in court for a pretrial hearing on March 27. He was freed on his own recognizance but was ordered to stay away from the alleged victim.
The District Attorney's Office last month declined to file felony charges against Lewis, referring the case to the City Attorney's Office, which filed the misdemeanor counts.
Lewis was arrested Feb. 8 and later released on $50,000 bond.
The Trojans released the team's spring practice roster on Monday, and Lewis was not on it. He was suspended from all team activities following his arrest in February.
``USC takes all reports of domestic abuse seriously and is cooperating fully with the law enforcement investigation,'' according to a statement released by the university after Lewis' arrest. ``While this student code of conduct issue is being investigated, the student has been suspended from all football-related activities. Student disciplinary records and student conduct proceedings are confidential at USC and protected by law.''
Lewis caught four passes for 39 yards in 11 games as a freshman in the 2017 season.
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