In what appears to be one of the most acrimonious divorces in all of professional sports, Deion Sanders has been cited for a misdemeanor simple assault, which does not warrant an arrest, according to police. Pilar Sanders, Deion’s estranged wife, on the other hand was arrested earlier this week in the same incident and was held overnight in jail on charges of misdemeanor assault. Police take allegations of domestic violence very seriously.
The latest events in this months-long and very public divorce battle makes an already strange case that much more bizarre. Pilar Sanders previously has filed a lawsuit against the Hall of Fame NFL player seeking more than $200 million in damages claiming Deion and one of his children from a previous relationship were making slanderous and libelous statements about her. That suit is scheduled to be heard in September.
Ms. Sanders is also asking a judge to award her money and throw out the couple’s prenuptial agreement because, she claims, she signed the document under duress. Prior to this latest incident the couple had been sharing their palatial Prosper, Texas, home with apparently separate living quarters. However, this week a judge issued an emergency protective order against Ms. Sanders and banned her form the residence for 60-days. The judge reportedly forbids her from harassing or threatening Deion or any of his family members.
Deion has been posting play by plays of these rather private matters between the couple to various social media websites, including sending out a photo of his kids filling out police reports. By doing this it appears he is taking the family’s issues to the court of public opinion. And Pilar’s behavior doesn’t appear to be much better than Deion’s what with her arrest.
Most divorce cases are not nearly this nasty, or played out in such a public way. Many couples are able to reach an amicable divorce settlement by consulting with a divorce attorney experienced in the use of mediation and collaborative law techniques. Since Pilar and Deion Sanders have three children together, a judge will most likely have a tough time deciding on child custody issues and which parent will act in the best interest of the children.
Source: Source One “Deion Sanders’ Wife Pilar Arrested, Released For Domestic Dispute,” Ruth Manuel-Logan, April 24, 2012
Source: The Boston Herald, “Deion Sanders cited for spat with estranged wife,” April 24, 2012
