The odd news Wednesday that HBO boxing announcer Jim Lampley spent some time bailing himself out of jail because of a domestic violence charge, as well as violating a restraining order, will sort itself out in the weeks to come.
From our experiences, this is out of character for the former KCBS Channel 2 sportscaster. Awhile back, Lampley was good enough to participate in a regular column we'd do called "What Would Jim Lampley Do," a sort-of takeoff on the popular WWJD religous phrase. This was far from what anyone would expect Lampley to do.
But from what his 29-year-old girlfriend Candice Sanders, a former Miss California, has put before the courts to decide, it's going to be a ugly battle for awhile, one that could take Lampley time off his HBO duties to sort out in the meantime.
Thursday, Lampley issued a statement through a publicist insisting he's innocent. He posted a $35,000 bail and was released Wednesday from the San Diego County Sheriff's Department.
“The circumstances are that there was an altercation between Mr. Lampley and a 28-year-old female with whom he reportedly has a dating relationship,� said Sheriff's Captain Glenn Revell, adding he could release no additional details pending the presentation of a completed investigation to the district attorney’s office.
Said Lampley through his spokesman Howard Bragman: “I am innocent of the charge of domestic abuse that has been leveled against me and will vigorously defend myself. I have tremendous respect for the justice system as a whole and for the San Diego courts and district attorney’s office specifically. I’m confident that the process will prove that I’m not guilty of this charge. I thank my friends and family for their support during this difficult time, and ask for the understanding and patience from the media until my legal situation allows me to discuss this in more depth.�
A San Diego County Sheriff said Lampley's arrest was for violating a restraining order. Domestic violence detectives were at the woman's resident conducting a followup interview when Lampley showed up. That's when he as put under arrest.
Linda Lee, the first of Lampley’s three former wives and a professor in the school of journalism at the University of Kansas, told the Associated Press that she couldn’t believe any accusation of violence against him.
“He’s like nobody else. I adore him,� Lee said. “We’ve been friends since we were kids. We grew up together. We were married for a while. We’re still friends. When I heard this, it was just unimaginable.
“I know the man, I’ve known him for years. He’s not capable of striking a woman, in my opinion. I’ve never
seen him strike anything or anyone. I’ve never seen him strike a pillow, that’s not his nature. He’s a very gentle man and very even-tempered.�
Lampley was also married to former KCBS Channel 2 news anchor Bree Walker and has two children with her. One of those children was allegedly present when a New Year's Eve incident occured at her Encinitas apartment.
A hearing on the restraining order that had been scheduled for Thursday morning was postponed to Jan. 11. Lampley did not appear in court Thursday, but Sanders did and alleged in her request for the restraining order that Lampley and his son were watching a movie with her at the Encinitas apartment when Lampley's son went to bed. Lampley pulled Sanders from the sofa, but she wanted to finish watching the movie, Sanders alleged in the court documents. She said that Lampley chased her around the apartment, grabbed her and threw her against a wall, threw her against another wall, and threw her against a door before she collapsed.
Sanders reportedly asked Lampley's son to call 911, but Lampley prevented it. Sanders went to a neighbor's apartment to call sheriff's deputies, who arrived after Lampley and his son had left, she alleged in the court documents.
"I am terrified that he will harm me unless he is restrained," Sanders wrote in the court documents.
Sanders alleged in the court documents that Lampley was drunk and "high on pot" the night of the incident.
Sanders also alleged that Lampley threw her down two months ago in a New York city restaurant, resulting in bruises from her neck to her tailbone that lasted for two weeks. Sanders alleged "the incident was kept quiet by his associates because he was to broadcast a major fight 2 days later."
More Lampley coverage from the North County Times and the celebrity gossip website TMZ.com attempt to shed more light on this.