Domestic assault hearing for Nashville Predators player Austin Watson postponed

Natalie Neysa Alund | The Tennessean

FRANKLIN — The first court appearance for a Nashville Predators player accused of assaulting his girlfriend at a gas station earlier this month has been postponed to next month.

Franklin police arrested team forward Austin Watson on June 16 and charged him with domestic assault on his girlfriend, with whom he has an infant.

Watson, 26, of Nashville, had initially been set to appear in Williamson County General Sessions court Thursday on the misdemeanor charge. Court records show the hearing is now set for July 24.

As of Thursday, Watson, remained free from jail on $4,500 bond.

According to an arrest warrant, on the evening of the reported offense, a Franklin Police Department officer was flagged down by a witness for a possible domestic situation at the Shell Station on Murfreesboro Road.

The officer soon learned Watson and his girlfriend — with whom he had a child in April — got into an argument in a vehicle at a gas station about her drinking and not being able to attend a wedding.

At the scene, the affidavit continues, Watson admitted to pushing his girlfriend and an officer noticed red marks on the woman’s chest.

If convicted of the misdemeanor, Austin faces up to 11 months and 29 days in jail and up to a $2,500 fine, said Williamson County District Attorney Kim Helper.

A first-round pick in 2010, Watson signed a three-year, $3.3 million contract in July 2017. He had a career-high 14 goals and 19 points this past season as well as eight points in 13 playoff games.

Both the Predators organization and the NHL are aware of the arrest.

"We are still gathering facts and it is not appropriate for us to comment further at this time, but this is a matter that we are taking very seriously and will cooperate fully with the investigation by law enforcement," the Predators released in a statement several days after Watson's arrest. "The Nashville Predators have and will continue to stand side by side with AMEND in the fight to end violence against women."

Reach Natalie Neysa Alund at nalund@tennessean.com and follow her on Twitter @nataliealund.