Ray Rice completes pretrial intervention, domestic violence charge dropped

The domestic violence charge against former Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice was dismissed on Thursday, according to Aaron Katersky of ABC News. That's because Rice has now completed the pretrial intervention program he entered and has taken part in since the February 2014 incident. Rather than face trial, Rice entered the program.

While many levied criticism at Jim McClain, the prosecutor in Rice's case, over the lack of prosecution, McClain did note in September 2014 that even under the harshest punishment Rice could have received, he would not have faced jail time.

McClain also noted that even had Rice received probation as a result of prosecution, he would have eventually been able to remove the assault from his record.

The assault in question occurred in February 2014, when Rice and his then-fiancee Janay Rice were charged and released from jail on simple assault charges. Video then surfaced of Rice dragging Palmer seemingly unconscious from an elevator in an Atlantic City casino, with more video eventually coming out showing Rice striking her in the elevator.

Rice was initially suspended for the first two games of the 2014 season, before being suspended indefinitely by the NFL when the second video emerged. He won an appeal of his second suspension, and was reinstated by the league. The Ravens released Rice in September, though he did file a formal grievance against the NFL for wrongful termination, winning a $1.588 million settlement. He is currently a free agent.