Former Miami Heat player and Ohio State star Greg Oden is due in court Wednesday for a battery charge after allegedly assaulting his ex-girlfriend.
The hearing was originally scheduled for Tuesday, but has been moved to 9 a.m. Wednesday, according to WTHR. After he was arrested on charges that he hit his former girlfriend during an argument, Oden now faces a felony charge for battery resulting in serious bodily injury.
Two additional misdemeanor charges, domestic battery and battery resulting in serious bodily injury, have also been issued.
Lawrence, Ind., police arrested Oden on Aug. 7 just after 3:30 a.m. in his mother's home in Lawrence, USA Today reported. The initial felony charge for serious bodily injury is a Level 5 felony, and Oden's offense could result in one to six years in prison.
According to court documents, the victim's left eye was almost swollen shut and she required three stitches between her eyebrows, WTHR reported. The woman must also have to wait for the swelling to fade in order to fix a nasal bone fracture she also suffered, she told hospital staff that she got the injury from falling and Oden admitted that he struck her, according to court documents.
The woman said she went out to a club that night with Oden and another friend. She added that he had some beers and a few shots of alcohol, and that he sometimes gets upset when he drinks. In addition, she said they have recently been having problems in their relationship. Oden stopped hitting her when he saw that she was bleeding, according to court documents.
Oden, 26, signed a free agent deal with the Miami Heat last season after suffering a knee that kept him out for three straight seasons. He played only 23 games for the Heat last season. Oden was drafted by the Portland Trailblazers with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2007 NBA Draft following one season as an All-American at Ohio State.
Oden is currently a free agent as he awaits his hearing for Wednesday.
