Kansas University associate athletic director Chris Howard has entered into a diversion agreement in Douglas County District Court on two misdemeanor charges he faced related to a June domestic incident at his home.
David Melton, a chief assistant Douglas County district attorney, said Howard entered the one-year diversion agreement in court on Aug. 7.
Lawrence police arrested Howard, 41, at his Lawrence home on June 7, and prosecutors charged him with domestic battery and intimidation of a witness, both misdemeanor counts. According to court records, Howard, a KU graduate, faced the domestic battery charge because he intentionally caused physical contact with a family member in “a rude, insulting or angry manner.”
Jim Marchiony, an associate AD for external relations, confirmed that Howard is still employed with KU Athletics Inc. Marchiony said the department declined to comment further because it was a personnel issue. Melton said diversion agreements generally require the defendant to complete counseling.
Howard’s younger brother, Ryan Howard, is the all-star first baseman for the Philadelphia Phillies.