A Rhode Island courtroom delivered a decisive verdict this week, clearing former Providence basketball standout Duncan Powell of two misdemeanor counts of domestic violence‑simple assault and disturbing the peace.
The Alleged Incident
According to police reports, the confrontation began in Powell’s Providence apartment in March, when a woman said the former college player hurled a water bottle that struck her knee, causing a painful injury.
Powell, who was later arrested in Cranston on March 29, allegedly called the woman repeatedly and threatened to use a gun to kill everyone in the house and then himself, a claim that prompted a police response despite the absence of a firearm at the scene.
Legal Proceedings
The case proceeded to a three‑day bench trial in Providence District Court, where the prosecution relied on the victim’s testimony and the recorded threat calls; however, the judge concluded that the evidence did not meet the burden of proof, resulting in an acquittal.
Powell, a Dallas native who completed his fifth year of eligibility last season, has not commented publicly on the ruling, but the outcome raises questions about how athletic figures navigate legal scrutiny in domestic‑violence matters.