Olympic gold medalist Hope Solo has pleaded not guilty for domestic violence charges brought against her this past weekend.
CNN reported that Solo, who is the U.S. women's soccer team goalkeeper, appeared in Kirkland Municipal Court on Monday and pleaded not guilty to domestic violence charges. The former "Dancing with the Stars" competitor was arrested on Saturday for suspicion of domestic violence after allegedly attacking her nephew and sister at a family gathering in Seattle.
According to authorities in Kirkland, dispatchers received a 911 call reporting that a woman was "hitting people" and refusing to leave a home in the western Washington city. Police who arrived on the scene said Solo was intoxicated and had inflicted "visible injuries" on her sister and nephew.
Solo's 17-year-old nephew told TMZ that his aunt arrived to the party drunk and upset after missing her flight. The two reportedly got into a heated argument after she insulted his weight. The argument escalated into a fight, causing Solo to grab her nephew's hair and punch him several times.
He reportedly pulled a gun on the athlete to try to get her to stop attacking him - Solo's sister clarified reports and stated that the weapon was actually a BB gun. Solo, who is identified in police documents as "Hope Amelia Stevens," allegedly attacked her sister when she tried to defend her son.
According to a police statement, after interviewing witnesses, police determined that Solo was the "primary aggressor and had instigated the assault." The 32-year-old athlete was booked "for investigation of two counts of fourth-degree domestic violence assault" at the South Correctional Entity Regional Jail in Des Moines, Wash., according to CNN.
She was released from custody without having to post bail, however a judge ordered the athlete to refrain from drinking alcohol. Solo has also been instructed not to contact her sister or nephew.
Her attorney Todd Maybrown said his client was reportedly the victim of the attack. Maybrown told the Chicago Tribune that Solo "was hit over the head with a broom handle."
Maybrown stressed her innocence in an email to the Associated Press over the weekend, writing, "Hope is not guilty of any crime. In fact, our investigation reveals that Hope was assaulted and injured during this unfortunate incident. We look forward to the opportunity to present the true facts in court and to having this matter behind Hope very soon."
Solo did not speak in court except to answer the judge's questions. Her husband, former Seattle Seahawks tight end Jerramy Stevens, was also in the courtroom showing support for his wife. In 2012, Stevens was previously arrested and investigated for allegedly assaulting Solo, but he was not charged.
Solo's next court appearance is scheduled for Aug. 11.
