Former University of South Florida head football coach Jim Leavitt has had all charges against him dismissed after being accused in a domestic altercation last month. The State Attorney's Office announced yesterday that there was insufficient evidence to proceed with charges of domestic battery, grand theft, and simple battery, as WFLA reported.
In August, Leavitt was arrested following claims by his ex-girlfriend that he had grabbed her arm, shoved another man, and stolen her Louis Vuitton purse from her at the Ibis Walk Apartments in St. Petersburg. The items reportedly valued between $5,000 and $10,000, but it is he who maintained his innocence throughout the process. "We were always of the opinion that Jim Leavitt didn’t commit the crimes for which he was arrested and appreciate the state’s quick and thoughtful consideration on this matter," Leavitt's attorney, Lucas Fleming, said in a statement obtained by Tampa Bay Times.
According to FOX 13, the charges stemmed from an August 25 incident during which an arrest affidavit stated that Leavitt allegedly struck his former live-in girlfriend and a man, in addition to the theft allegations. However, both involved parties later communicated that they did not want to press charges or participate in the prosecution, explaining that the situation was a misunderstanding that escalated unexpectedly.
Leavitt's legal entanglement cast a shadow over his scheduled induction into the USF Athletic Hall of Fame set for October 2. He was previously fired from USF in 2010, after an investigation found that he grabbed a player by the throat, slapped him in the face, and lied about an it, according to ESPN. Despite the past and recent controversies, the dropped charges appear to clear the way for the induction ceremony to go on as planned. Pinellas-Pasco State Attorney Bruce Bartlett told the Tampa Bay Times, "They said it was a misunderstanding and things got out of hand. They argued, tempers got flared a little bit."
Leavitt has left a significant mark on USF's football history. He was the program's first coach, amassing a 95-57 record over 13 seasons, achieving a peak national ranking of No. 2 in 2007, and leading the team to five straight bowl games.
