Chad Johnson may be ordered to do some time in jail.
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Johnson, formerly known as Chad Ochocinco, pleaded not guilty to a misdemeanor battery charge stemming from his August 11 arrest for a physical altercation with estranged wife Evelyn Lozada, E! News reported. If convicted, the former Ochocinco: The Ultimate Catch star could reportedly face up to a year behind bars.
Johnson's attorney Adam Swickle reportedly entered the plea of not guilty on behalf of his client whom was absent from the Florida courtroom hearing Thursday morning.
"We continue to work diligently on the case with the state attorney's office, and we have been exchanging all evidence in the case," Swickle told E! News, adding that Johnson is "doing well, considering the circumstance. He always lands back on his feet."
Johnson, an NFL free agent, was arrested last month over a domestic violence incident in which he allegedly heat-butted Lozada after she reportedly found a receipt for condoms and confronted Johnson about it outside the couple's Florida home. Lozada suffered a laceration on her forehead from the blow, which reportedly required stitches.
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Johnson was released from jail on $2,500 bond the following day.
Shortly after the incident, Lozada filed for divorce from Johnson, whom she had married less than two months ago. However, Johnson is reportedly still hoping to work things out with his estranged wife, as he recently decided to tattoo Lozada's face on his right leg an in attempt to show his affection and commitment.
Johnson and Lozada's previously-ordered Ev and Ocho reality series -- a spinoff of VH1's Basketball Wives that had been scheduled to premiere on September 3 -- was canceled by the network following the domestic violence altercation. The series was to chronicle the events leading up to the recent marriage of Johnson and Lozada, who previously co-starred on Basketball Wives.
Johnson was also released by the Miami Dolphins -- whose NFL pre-season training camp was chronicled on this summer's just-concluded edition of HBO's Hard Knocks reality series -- after the incident.
Lozada and Johnson began dating while Johnson's Ochocinco: The Ultimate Catch reality dating show was still airing on VH1 in 2010, spoiling the fact that he hadn't found lasting love on the show. The couple got engaged about a year later in November 2011 and married on July 4.
About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski