SANTA BARBARA, Calif. -- A Linebacker for the Miami Dolphins answered to one felony battery charge, residential burglary and dissuading a witness in a Santa Barbara Superior Courtroom, Friday morning.
Nawa Koa Misi, or most known as Koa Misi, is accused of breaking down the door of an Isla Vista apartment on April 15th, 2011 and beating up a 19-year-old inside.
"This occurred in Isla Vista about a year ago," said Adam Braun, Misi's attorney said in court. "There was essentially, a drunken altercation."
The fight is believed to have started from a fight earlier in the night, when the victim was taunting Misi.
The nearly 6'3" professional football player was scheduled to be arraigned on the charge of felony battery with great bodily injury back in 2011.
"Mr. Misi did not show up for those charges and a warrant was issued," said Deputy District Attorney Lee Carter. "Mr. Misi was eventually arrested in Florida and now he's voluntarily appeared back here in Santa Barbara."
On March 30th, 2012 Misi was taken into custody at his Florida home by the Broward County Sheriff's Department's Fugitive Investigators and posted bail the same day.
Misi pleaded not guilty to battery, residential burglary and dissuading a witness. If convicted, he could be taken off the gridiron and put behind bars.
"This would be a felony where he could go to state prison," said Carter.
Misi's attorney Adam Braun did not comment on Friday morning's arraignment but he did tell the media he would be telling his client's side of the story at the next court hearing in May.
Bail for the linebacker was set at $10,000 and he posted bond before walking out of the Santa Barbara County Courthouse.
Misi is traveling back to Florida but could return to Santa Barbara for the preliminary hearing.
COURTESY: CBS
Nawa Koa Misi in a Santa Barbara Courtroom, April 20, 2012.
