It is not going to end well for Johnny Manziel

No functional franchise would have drafted him in the first place because of his entourage and his antics.

 

Why would he be indicted on a misdemeanor? Shouldn't the cops have just arrested him?

 

The DA sent the misdemeanor case to a Grand Jury, which is unusual. Thus, indictment. But you are right, GJs are for felonies and worse.

I guess even the court system wants to wash their hands of the shitshow coming to town.

 

There can be procedural advantages to indicting a misdemeanor in some circumstances. I don't know enough about Texas criminal procedure to know if those exist in this case or not.

I'd be surprised if this case doesn't end up in some kind of pre-trial diversion program.

 

Is it also because of the celebrity of the defendant? Recall that in the Tony Stewart investigation, that was openly the reason it went to a grand jury.

 

I also wonder if that is an OJ effect - to try to show the DA's office is being fair and impartial and that famous people are not getting special privileges.

 

It's certainly possible that his celebrity status played a role. I wouldn't send a misdemeanor against a celebrity to the grand jury, personally, though. Grand juries will indict almost anything. So it works if you're seeking cover not to charge what is clearly a very weak case, e.g. Tony Stewart, but it could also end up giving you a shit sandwich that you'd have been better off using your prosecutorial discretion to bring to an end.

 

I believe I have mentioned before how I still root for Ryan Leaf and want to see him totally turn his life around. He had some good stuff today with Dan Patrick talking about Johnny. Leaf appears to be owning up for his past mistakes and is trying to share his story so others don't make those same mistakes.
Ryan Leaf says prison helped him turn his life around

 

People are dumb:

 

Of course not. Manziel says he'll probably play this year once all his problems or issues (whatever word he used) are settled. They thought this hearing was a speed bump on the way to a party at the Derby.

 

At least he nailed the expected TMZ smarm look in his mug shot, which gets added douche points bc it was taken much later and (presumably) while he was not intoxicated. Flush him, learn a lesson, fucko.

 

I would never presume Johnny Manziel is not intoxicated.