Solo to face domestic violence charges again
Appeals court reverses decision to dismiss case against U.S. goalkeeper.
Hope Solo, the record-setting goalkeeper for the World Cup champion U.S. women’s soccer team, will face domestic violence charges after a Washington State appeals court Friday reversed a judge’s decision last winter to throw out the case.
Solo is alleged to have assaulted her half-sister Teresa Obert and Obert’s son, then 17 — Solo’s nephew — during a party in June 2014. Solo claimed to be the victim in the incident, but after an investigation, Kirkland, Wash., prosecutors charged her with two counts of fourth-degree assault.
In January, Kirkland Municipal Judge Michael Lambo dismissed the charges on procedural grounds after prosecution witnesses refused multiple requests to be interviewed. In an unusual move, prosecutors challenged that decision and an appeals court reinstated the charges without comment.
No trial date has been set for the case.
“We are shocked and disappointed by the judge’s ruling,” Solo’s attorney Todd Maybrown said in a statement. “However, we maintain our position that the charges in this case should have never been filed, that the original trial court’s dismissal of the case was correct, and we plan to file an appeal of today’s decision with the Court of Appeals.”
Both Solo and U.S. Soccer declined to comment Friday.
U.S. Soccer suspended Solo for a month last winter following an incident in which her husband, former NFL player Jerramy Stevens, was arrested on suspicion of DUI while behind the wheel of a team van. At the time U.S. federation President Sunil Gulati said Solo’s behavior had left her place on the World Cup team in doubt.
But she was reinstated in February and went on to be chosen as the World Cup’s top goalkeeper, allowing three goals in seven games while helping the U.S. to its first world championship in 16 years.
Friday’s court decision leaves her availability for next summer’s Olympic Games uncertain.
Solo, 34, holds U.S. national team records for wins and shutouts.
She played Thursday for the Seattle Reign in the National Women’s Soccer League title game, giving up a goal to World Cup teammate Amy Rodriguez in a game won by FC Kansas City, 1-0.