Former NFL player Joe Staysniak has been charged with battery resulting in bodily injury and strangulation for allegedly assaulting his son and choking his son’s boyfriend. According to a probable-cause affidavit, Staysniak was investigating a suspicious car in his front yard after a neighbor called him. The affidavit shows that Staysniak opened the rear passenger door and began choking his son’s boyfriend. The son alleged that his father punched him, causing his lip to bleed.
Both younger men claimed that Staysniak brandished a gun, with the son saying that Staysniak told him and his boyfriend “that they’re lucky he saw who it was” and the boyfriend alleging that Staysniak “had it against the side of his face at one point”. Staysniak confirmed having his handgun on him but denied touching the boyfriend with it or pointing it at any person.
In a statement on Facebook, Staysniak’s lawyer said he was “completely confident that Joe’s actions will be conclusively determined to be legal and justified under the circumstances.” Staysniak has denied all charges. A pre-trial hearing is scheduled for April 10, with a jury trial set for 15 days later. As part of his pre-trial release, Staysniak has been ordered to have no contact with his son or his son’s boyfriend.