ATLANTA -- Shannon Sharpe appeared in court Friday on
misdemeanor simple battery charges for removing the mother of one
of his children from his home.
Erika Evans of Austell went to Sharpe's Atlanta home June 29 to
pick up their son, but at some point during the visit Sharpe lifted
Evans and removed her from his house against her will, according to
the affidavit for Sharpe's arrest.
Sharpe retired after last season after 14 years in the NFL with
Denver and Baltimore. He had 815 catches, most ever for a tight
end.
His attorney, Craig Gillen, said Sharpe asked Evans to leave the
house at least twice.
"Then Mr. Sharpe very appropriately and lawfully simply picked
her up and gently put her outside of his home," Gillen said.
Police came to the home at the time of the altercation and
interviewed Sharpe and Evans but left without making an arrest,
Gillen said. Court documents indicate that Evans filed charges July
13 -- two weeks later -- which is when Sharpe turned himself in and
posted a $1,000 bond.
Atlanta police could not locate records in the case.
Evans is one of three women who have been in and out of Fulton
County civil court with Sharpe since March 1994. The 10 court cases
between Sharpe and the women include paternity and domestic
matters.
Gillen wouldn't comment on whether past civil litigation
prompted Evans to file the criminal charges. Neither Evans'
attorney in the criminal matter, Charles Mathis, nor her attorney
in the civil matters, Joyce Glucksman, immediately returned
telephone messages left at their offices Friday by The Associated
Press.
Sharpe's case was rescheduled to Wednesday in Fulton County
Magistrate Court.