Last week, Jimmie Ward was arrested and charged with assault family violence impeding breath/circulation. The Texans safety now has a court date scheduled. 
Ward will have his initial court hearing on July 16, Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 notes. The 33-year-old’s charge is a third-degree felony stemming from an alleged incident which took place at his home in Magnolia, Texas. During a pre-trial hearing, Ward was informed a guilty verdict could lead to a sentence up to 10 years in length and a $100K fine.
“We believe that Jimmie will be vindicated,” a statement from Ward’s attorney, Steve Jackson, reads (via Wilson). “We just ask that the public reserve judgment so that we can show everyone that the Jimmie Ward they all know is the same person and did not do this.”
During a reading of the charges, the assistant district attorney noted how the alleged victim in the case – Ward’s fiancé – told police Ward “slapped her in the face, strangled her and threatened to kill her.” She filed for and received an emergency protective order in the wake of the incident. Ward was released from prison on a $30K bond and his movements will be monitored via GPS.
A longtime starter with the 49ers, Ward joined DeMeco Ryans and the Texans in 2023. He has operated as a team captain during each of his two years in Houston while handling a notable defensive workload. Thanks to an extension signed last offseason, the former first-rounder is under contract for 2025 and is owed $3.25MM this year. That could obviously change in the wake of legal developments taking place and/or an NFL suspension being handed down before the start of the season.