Pitt freshman Dior Johnson pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor charges Friday, according to his lawyer, after he was charged last month with assaulting a woman.
Johnson at one point faced charges of aggravated and simple assault, unlawful restraint, false imprisonment and strangulation. As part of a plea agreement, he pleaded guilty to misdemeanor counts of simple assault and strangulation.
The felony aggravated assault charge, unlawful restraint and false imprisonment were previously dismissed by a judge.
Johnson joined Pitt’s 2022 recruiting class in June after committing to and decommitting from Syracuse and Oregon. In October, he was charged after his alleged victim gave a written statement to police.
The woman alleged that Johnson slapped her across the face during an argument, left his apartment with her phone and came back at 4 a.m. to return it. When their argument escalated, he would not allow her to leave his apartment, she alleged.
She also said he “got violent and repeatedly punched (her) in her arms, stomach and head multiple times.” When she tried to call 911, Johnson allegedly ran after her with scissors.
Pitt suspended Johnson indefinitely after he was charged. The guard remains suspended.
“Pitt continues to follow University and athletic department protocols regarding Dior Johnson’s suspension,” Pitt’s athletic department said in a statement. “All parties continue to work through the process and will not comment until additional steps have been completed.”
–Field Level Media
