VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — Tennessee Titans wide receiver Justin Hunter was found not guilty on Tuesday of committing assault and battery in a crowded bar in his hometown over the July 4 weekend.
The charge stemmed from a brawl that began inside a bar in the Virginia Beach oceanfront tourist district shortly before 2 a.m. on July 4.
Prosecutors said the fight led to a man’s jaw being broken, although the victim said at trial it wasn’t Hunter who landed the most serious blow against him on a sidewalk once the bar had been cleared out. The entire fight inside the bar lasted about 60 seconds and quickly involved numerous people, according to surveillance video presented at trial. The video showed at least one person throwing a bar stool.
Defense attorney Toby Vick said the only reason Hunter was singled out for charges is because he’s an NFL player with deep pockets. The victim in the case doesn’t have health insurance and has expensive medical bills to pay as a result of the fight, and has hired a personal injury attorney with the intent of suing Hunter.
“This is nothing but a ploy to get to his pocket and money,” Vick said.