Jonathan Majors appears in court for assault case, judge sets trial date
Jonathan Majors has a trial date in his assault and aggravated harassment case.
Majors, 33, appeared in court Tuesday for a preliminary hearing in a white button-down under a brown coat and matching pants as he entered the Manhattan courthouse.
A trial date for the "Creed III" and "Avengers: The Kang Dynasty" star was set for Aug. 3, Manhattan District Attorney press secretary Doug Cohen told USA TODAY in a statement.
Judge Rachel Pauley wished Majors "best of luck" as she scheduled his trial. "Yes, ma'am," Majors said, standing with his lawyers in front of Pauley’s bench in Manhattan’s domestic violence court.
Pauley told Majors he must continue to abide by a protection order barring him from contact with his accuser. The judge also warned that a warrant could be issued for his arrest if he does not show up for his trial date.
Actress Meagan Good, his rumored girlfriend, held his hand as they exited court.
Police arrested Majors in March after receiving a 911 call from a Manhattan apartment, where a woman at the scene told officers she had been assaulted. The actor was arraigned on multiple charges, including assault and aggravated harassment.
The actor’s representative, attorney Priya Chaudhry, denied the allegations and claimed in a statement to USA TODAY on Tuesday that she submitted "evidence of Mr. Majors' innocence."
All the details Jonathan Majors faces assault, harassment charges after alleged altercation
Jonathan Majors' attorney denies wrongdoing, says actor was assaulted
Chaudhry told USA TODAY in a March 26 statement that Majors "is completely innocent and is provably the victim of an altercation with a woman he knows" and expects charges will be dropped.
The attorney added that she was submitting evidence to the district attorney – including video footage, witness testimony and written statements – "with the expectation that all charges will be dropped imminently."
Chaudhry doubled down Tuesday, telling USA TODAY she submitted video that the alleged victim assaulted Majors "and not the other way around."
Majors' team has asked the courts to dismiss all charges and pursue proceedings against the woman involved in the case.
"While we are hopeful that the District Attorney is reviewing these materials in good faith and will do the right thing soon, to accelerate our case, we've requested a trial date ASAP," Chaudry added.
Before scheduling Majors’ trial, the judge issued a sealed decision that prompted Chaudhry to withdraw court papers she’d filed challenging the case. Pauley handed copies of her ruling to Majors' lawyers and prosecutors, but did not discuss any details in open court.
Why was Jonathan Majors arrested?
Majors was arrested in New York on March 25 after an alleged domestic violence altercation with a 30-year-old woman.
The New York Police Department confirmed to USA TODAY that Majors was taken into custody after a woman told officers she had been assaulted. The woman was taken to the hospital, police said.
Majors was arraigned on multiple charges, including assault and aggravated harassment, the Manhattan district attorney's office told USA TODAY. In the complaint, the woman claimed she was struck with an open hand, causing a laceration behind her ear, and suffered bruising and pain when she alleged Majors "put his hand on her neck."
He could be sentenced to up to a year in jail if convicted.
Contributing: Kim Willis, Edward Segarra, USA TODAY; Michael R. Sisak, The Associated Press
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Jonathan Majors, Meagan Good hold hands outside court for assault case