Gator Country

Sophomore tight end A.C. Leonard carries a small child around during Florida's open spring practice on March 17 during his six-week suspension from the team. / Gator Country file photo by Saj Guevara

Florida sophomore tight end A.C. Leonard was arrested for simple domestic battery on Feb. 15, and coach Will Muschamp suspended Leonard indefinitely.

The tight end was reinstated to the team and allowed to practice on March 26 while his legal case was still pending.

According to Alachua County court records, Leonard had a court hearing at 1:30 p.m. today at the Alachua County courthouse.

The Orlando Sentinel reported Wednesday afternoon that Leonard pled no contest to the misdemeanor charge of simple domestic battery and “must complete six months probation, pay $628 in fines and court costs, continue counseling for anger management and make his medical records open to the state attorney’s office” while not having contact with the victim.

Leonard and attorney Huntley Johnson had previously filed a written “not guilty” plea to the charge on Feb. 20.

The sophomore is projected as the backup tight end for the Gators behind junior Jordan Reed. He caught eight passes for 99 yards last season as a true freshman.

While his court case has been resolved, it’s unclear whether Leonard will play in Florida’s Orange & Blue Debut spring game.

Muschamp is not scheduled to meet with the media again before the game begins at 1 p.m. Saturday, but he issued a statement this afternoon through the University Athletic Association.

“As I stated last week, A.C. has a number of things he has to work through before his status for the fall is addressed,” he said.

About the author

Thomas Goldkamp

Thomas Goldkamp is the Gator Country beat reporter for football and basketball. He graduated from the University of Florida’s College of Journalism and Communications and has been covering the Florida Gators since late 2009. He previously worked as a freelancer on the Rivals network, as well as at the Palm Beach Post. You can find his latest stories here.

More Football | RSS