Cleveland Browns linebacker Devin Bush Jr. has been acquitted of assault and harassment charges by a Pennsylvania judge, bringing an end to a case that stemmed from a domestic dispute earlier this year.
The Incident and Allegations
The 27-year-old NFL player was arrested in May following an argument at the couple's home in the Pittsburgh area. The altercation reportedly began over a seemingly trivial matter: how Bush was transferring mashed potatoes into a container in their kitchen.
The accuser, Shkurte Leka, who is the mother of Bush's three-year-old daughter, claimed the situation escalated. She alleged that Bush assaulted her and confiscated her car keys when she started recording their argument on her iPhone. Leka further testified that he chased her through the house, pinned her down on a table in an attempt to seize her mobile phone, which he subsequently smashed. She stated she sustained cuts to her right wrist and toe during the incident.
The Court's Verdict and Defence
Bush admitted to destroying Leka's phone but denied any physical contact with her. The case was heard in a Downtown Pittsburgh courtroom in a non-jury trial lasting roughly 90 minutes before Allegheny County Common Pleas Judge Bruce Beemer.
Judge Beemer found Bush not guilty of both simple assault and harassment. The ruling came after prosecutors were unable to prove that Bush had any intent to harm or injure Leka, a crucial element of the charges.
Bush's attorney, Robert Del Greco Jr., told TribLive.com after the trial, "We are relieved and pleased with the verdict." He added, "I think Devin Bush testified cogently and convincingly regarding his abject lack of intent to harm or injure anyone."
Defence Claims of "Unlawful Wiretapping"
The defence argued that Leka was recording Bush's comments without his knowledge or consent, an act Del Greco characterised as "unlawful wiretapping." In a statement to TMZ, Del Greco elaborated, "The testimony elicited at trial indicated that the putative victim... was electronically and surreptitiously intercepting the oral communications of Devin Bush. When Mr. Bush learned of this interception, he voiced his objection, but the interception continued. Mr. Bush removed and broke the phone that was the mechanism of the electronic interception."
Bush's Career and Season Performance
Devin Bush Jr., a first-round draft pick by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2019 out of the University of Michigan, also had a stint with the Seattle Seahawks before joining the Cleveland Browns in 2024. Despite the Browns' challenging 3-11 season record, Bush has been a standout performer on the field, recording 93 total tackles and two interceptions.
The not-guilty verdict allows Bush to move forward without the looming legal proceedings as he continues his professional career in the NFL.
