Former 49ers defensive lineman Charles Omenihu faces formal misdemeanor domestic violence charges from two incidents in January, and is scheduled for a May 4 court date, the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s office told NBC Sports Bay Area.
Omenihu, 25, was arrested on Jan. 23 in San Jose, one day after the 49ers' NFC divisional-round playoff win over the Dallas Cowboys at Levi's Stadium. Neither the 49ers nor the NFL took any action against Omenihu, who played 38 snaps the next week in a 31-7 loss to the Eagles in the NFC Championship Game.
Omenihu also faces a misdemeanor domestic violence charge from a previous incident, also in January, as well as a misdemeanor for allegedly obstructing the use of a cell phone to prevent the alleged victim from notifying law enforcement.
Omenihu no longer a member of the 49ers. The Kansas City Chiefs signed him in March to a reported two-year contract as an unrestricted free agent.
Omenihu could be subject to discipline under the NFL’s personal conduct policy, pending a review of the matter.
The upcoming court date is a check-in with the judge on whether all documents have been provided to the defense and a status update on the case, according to the DA’s office.
Omenihu, 25, was booked into the Santa Clara County jail on Jan. 23 on suspicion of misdemeanor domestic violence and later released after posting bail.
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Police responded that day to a 911 call in which a woman described a man trying to “beat her,” according to San Jose Detective Erin Allen, who investigated the case. A male voice could be heard in the background saying, "I wasn’t trying to ..." before the call disconnected, according to the statement of facts that Allen submitted.
The woman told police she had been dating Omenihu for eight months and was visiting him from out of town. According to the report, Omenihu searched her phone and found a message on the woman’s Instagram account that upset him. He demanded that she leave his apartment and used disparging language toward her.
The woman began to pack, the report reads, and Omenihu followed her and tried to take off the shirt she was wearing because it belonged to him. She removed the shirt and changed into a hooded sweartshirt.
Omenihu allegedly grabbed the woman’s left arm and "swung her body into the wall two times." The woman told police that her face and the front of her body hit the wall.
The woman called 911, and Omenihu took the phone from her and disconnected the call, according to the report. He said he would ruin her life if she spoke to the police.
Omenihu then threw the woman's suitcase outside the apartment, and she followed him into the hallway. At that point, according to the detective, Omenihu pushed the woman by putting two hands on the front of her body. The victim hit the wall with her left shoulder and side. She fell on the ground.
According to Allen’s report, small bruises formed on the victim’s left arm were consistent with the woman’s description of where and how Omenihu grabbed her.
The woman disclosed details of a prior incident involving the two individuals, which she said occurred on Jan. 3.
In the report, she said Omenihu grabbed her during the previous incident and pushed her against a wall, where her elbow hit the windowsill and her buttocks hit the lever that opens the window. She took photos of her bruising from that incident and provided them to the San Jose Police Department, according to the report. Omenihu also made threats against the woman and her father, per the report.
Following the alleged Jan. 3 incident, the woman sent a text message to Omenihu, saying her whole backside hurt, and "you pushed me hard asf," according to Allen’s report. It goes on to read that a copy of the text messages were provided to the San Jose Police Department, with Omenihu responding, "I know I’m sorry babe it won’t ever happen again."
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