Jared Sullinger hired the same lawyers as Aaron Hernandez

Charles Rankin addressing the media regarding Aaron Hernandez on July 24.

From Jay King of Mass Live:

Rankin in court with Sullinger.

"Attorneys Charles Rankin and Jamie Sultan of Rankin & Sultan, part of [Aaron] Hernandez's legal counsel in a murder case, were both present at Waltham District Court Tuesday for Sullinger's arraignment on charges of assault and battery, destruction of property over $250 and intimidation of a witness. During Tuesday's hearing, Rankin said Sullinger, before turning himself into police an hour later, arrived at Rankin's house at 5 a.m. that morning. The two had spoken over the phone during the weekend, Rankin said, but did not meet until Tuesday."

Below is summary of the police report on the incident between Sullinger and girlfriend Deann Smith from CSNNE:

"Smith told police she found evidence on Sullinger's phone that he was cheating on her. The two argued in the bedroom of their shared Waltham townhouse. Sullinger pushed Smith onto a bed and though Smith claimed she had no medical issues stemming from the incident, according to the report, she had visible red marks on her chest."

And some more details via the Boston Globe:

“During this heated argument in the bedroom, Jared pushed her down onto the bed and got on top of her,” Waltham police wrote in their report of the confrontation. Sullinger’s girlfriend said “she tried several times to get up, but he kept pinning her down and would not let her up.’’ Smith told police Sullinger threw her off the bed and onto the floor. “He then got on top of her again and would not let her up,’’ police wrote. 

Smith said she grabbed her phone and told Sullinger she was calling police. He allegedly grabbed it out of her hand and then, after pushing her to the ground again, went to the garage and drove away. She told police she knew Sullinger was scheduled to fly to Ohio. She said she waited until 8 p.m. to call police because it was only by then that she was certain he was out of the state. Smith’s phone was “shattered on both sides” but still operable, police said. 

Smith, who allegedly had red marks on her chest after the fight, did not seek a restraining order against Sullinger, even though prosecutors said he had previously pushed and threatened her.

Here are the official statements to this point from Sullinger, and the Celtics organization.

I know this is a terrible time to make jokes, but I'm going to anyway.  Without making light of the seriousness of the situation, I would like to point out that A) it appears attorney Charles Rankin only has one shirt/tie/jacket combo that he deems appropriate for defending pro athletes, and B) if Smith's iphone is "still operable," how does that effect the "destruction of property" charges?


Related: 
Jared Sullinger in court: victim claims history of abuse, Sullinger released on $5,000 bail
Fab Melo also had domestic violence charges on his resume; Should the C's vet players more thoroughly?


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