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[UPDATE] Former FSU Football Player Accused of Assaulting Pregnant Woman

Posted: 8:07 AM Dec 20, 2011
Reporter: Eyewitness News, Julie Montanaro

Former FSU Football Player Arrested for Battery on Pregnant Victim 12-20 Noon
Vanover Arrested for Battery on Pregnant Victim
Vanover Enters Plea to Misdemeanor Battery Charge

UPDATED 4.9.2012 by Julie Montanaro

Former FSU football player Tamarick Vanover entered a plea in court this morning that will spare him a felony record.

Vanover was initially charged with felony aggravated battery on his pregnant girlfriend. Court records show that charge was reduced to misdemeanor battery as part of a plea deal.

Court records show Vanover entered a no contest plea to battery this morning. He was sentenced to one year on probation and ordered to attend anger management classes.

The judge allowed peaceful contact with the victim. Prosecutors tell us the couple is still together and she has since given birth to the couple's child.

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UPDATED 12.20.2011 by Julie Montanaro

Former FSU standout and pro football player Tamarick Vanover was arrested early this morning. He's accused of beating his very pregnant girlfriend. Those are accusations the former ball player categorically denies.

Tamarick Vanover's pregnant girlfriend met police at a Circle K on Apalachee Parkway. Arrest reports say she showed up with a gun, a swollen cheek and a cut above her eye.

She told police Vanover charged her and pushed her to the ground. She told police Vanover then climbed to his knees and punched her about seven times.

Neighbors are stunned.

"I think its awful, hopefully she doesnt go back to him," neighbor Katie Coker said.

Vanover's manager and spokesperson said the couple just moved in together last week. She called the girlfriend the aggressor in this fight.

"She was fighting him and he was slapping her hands out of the way, and one of the times he slapped her hands, she fell and that's all that happened. There were no punches, no licks passed," Shay Alexander said, "He absolutely denies that that happened. Ever."

Vanover has since posted $2500 bond and been released from jail.

The football player who wowed Seminole nation in the early 90's and went on to make Monday night football history with the Kansas City Chiefs has been behind bars before on federal charges for his involvement in a stolen car and drug trafficking ring.

Vanover's girlfriend says the gun she turned over to police at the Circle K was his. He claims it was hers. Police were not able to say for sure.

Tallahassee Police released the arrest report this afternoon, but would not comment further on the incident.

A copy of the redacted probable cause is attached to this story.

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Tallahassee, Florida - December 20, 2011 -

Former FSU standout Tamarick Vanover was arrested early this morning and accused of aggravated battery on a pregnant victim.

The probable cause is attached above in PDF format

Court records show he was arrested at about nine o'clock Monday night, made his first appearance before a judge this morning and has already been released on $2500 bond.

The judge ordered him to stay away from the victim, her home and her workplace.

Tamarick Vanover is currently a student at Florida State.

We are still trying to get copies of the arrest report.