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Former 49ers and Raiders offensive lineman Kwame Harris has been convicted of several misdemeanors stemming from a dispute with a boyfriend that escalated into assault at a Chinese restaurant in Menlo Park, prosecutors said.
Harris, 31, was found guilty Monday of misdemeanor domestic violence, battery and assault for the attack Aug. 21, 2012. A jury in San Mateo County Superior Court acquitted him of felony domestic violence and felony assault counts.
Harris was angry that his boyfriend at the time, Dimitri Geier, tried to put soy sauce on Harris' rice at Suh Hong restaurant on Menlo Avenue.
Harris then accused Geier of stealing his underwear and tried to pull down the boyfriend's pants to prove he was wearing the stolen pair, authorities said.
Harris, 6-foot-7 and 240 pounds, pinned Geier against a plate-glass window and hit him several times in the face and head, hard enough to cause facial fractures that required surgery and the insertion of a metal plate, according to San Mateo County prosecutors.
Alin Cintean, Harris' attorney, said his client had punched Geier only once, and it was in self-defense.
"We're relieved that they acquitted him of the felonies, which tells us that they believe the truth - that he did act in self-defense," Cintean said.
He said Harris plans to appeal the misdemeanor convictions.
Geier sued Harris in October 2012, but withdrew the complaint about six months ago, his attorney, Craig Charles, said Tuesday.
"I had hoped that it would move forward, but ultimately, the decision is his," Charles said.
Harris, an offensive tackle, attended Stanford University and was the 49ers' top draft pick in 2003. He spent five seasons with the team, then played for the Raiders in 2008, his last year in the NFL. He is scheduled to return to court Nov. 12 for sentencing.
http://www.sfgate.com/crime/article/Ex-Niner-Kwame-Harris-guilty-of-domestic-violence-4958587.php
Harris, 31, was found guilty Monday of misdemeanor domestic violence, battery and assault for the attack Aug. 21, 2012. A jury in San Mateo County Superior Court acquitted him of felony domestic violence and felony assault counts.
Harris was angry that his boyfriend at the time, Dimitri Geier, tried to put soy sauce on Harris' rice at Suh Hong restaurant on Menlo Avenue.
Harris then accused Geier of stealing his underwear and tried to pull down the boyfriend's pants to prove he was wearing the stolen pair, authorities said.
Harris, 6-foot-7 and 240 pounds, pinned Geier against a plate-glass window and hit him several times in the face and head, hard enough to cause facial fractures that required surgery and the insertion of a metal plate, according to San Mateo County prosecutors.
Alin Cintean, Harris' attorney, said his client had punched Geier only once, and it was in self-defense.
"We're relieved that they acquitted him of the felonies, which tells us that they believe the truth - that he did act in self-defense," Cintean said.
He said Harris plans to appeal the misdemeanor convictions.
Geier sued Harris in October 2012, but withdrew the complaint about six months ago, his attorney, Craig Charles, said Tuesday.
"I had hoped that it would move forward, but ultimately, the decision is his," Charles said.
Harris, an offensive tackle, attended Stanford University and was the 49ers' top draft pick in 2003. He spent five seasons with the team, then played for the Raiders in 2008, his last year in the NFL. He is scheduled to return to court Nov. 12 for sentencing.
http://www.sfgate.com/crime/article/Ex-Niner-Kwame-Harris-guilty-of-domestic-violence-4958587.php
