Former Iowa wrestler Montell Marion, who was charged with domestic assault in August, has been cleared.
Marion told The Daily Iowan that the “incident was completely fabricated” by the female involved, who claimed that Marion had picked her up and slammed her into the fireplace in his home, as reported by the DI on Aug. 30.
The charges were dropped on Oct. 12, but Marion said he still fears his reputation has been permanently damaged, especially after running into legal trouble in the past during his tenure as a Hawkeye.
“This situation has been detrimental to my image and could hurt my career,” Marion said. “My main concern is to bring back honor to my family. This has hurt my father, and I am upset that this false charge could reflect poorly upon him as well.”
Marion was suspended from the Iowa wrestling team in May 2010 following a string of driving violations, but he petitioned head coach Tom Brands, saying he had changed his lifestyle. He was reinstated in January 2011.
The grappler returned to the mat in March 2011 and placed fourth in the NCAA at 141 pounds. Marion also finished as the national runner-up at the same weight class this past season.
Marion credits his father for the positive effect that helped him change his life and for “raising [him] right.”
“I don’t hit women. I’ve never done that in my life,” the wrestler said. “I wasn’t raised that way; I was brought up better than that.”
— by Molly Irene Olmstead