Titans' Justin Hunter released from jail on $25K bond

Tennessee Titans wide receiver Justin Hunter was released from a Virginia jail on a $25,000 bond on Tuesday afternoon after being charged with malicious wounding for his involvement in a July 3 incident.

General District Judge Daniel Lahne said during the Tuesday hearing that Hunter could be released on bond as long as he remained in good behavior and was placed under an 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew. Hunter is also not allowed to drink alcohol or use drugs.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Sept. 3.

Hunter was not in the courtroom. He appeared via video conference.

The Virginia Attorney's Office said the felony is punishable by five to 20 years in prison and a $100,000 fine.

Prosecutors said during Hunter's arraignment that he started a fight on July 3 by punching a man in the face twice.

Commonwealth Attorney Wendy Alexander said more people then began fighting. After the bar was cleared, Alexander said, the man whom Hunter originally punched was bent over and spitting out blood on a sidewalk. Hunter then "sucker-punched" him again, before leaving the scene.

The man suffered a broken jaw and a cracked tooth. He went to a nearby hospital, Alexander said.

A warrant for Hunter's arrest was issued Friday. Virginia Beach police then contacted the Titans. Hunter turned himself in Monday.

On Monday, the Titans released a one-sentence statement: “We are aware of the situation and are continuing to gather more facts." The team's media guide says Hunter splits his time between Nashville and Virginia Beach.

Hunter's attorney, Toby Vick, said that Hunter would report to training camp in Nashville next week.

The NFL is expected to do its own investigation. The outcome could result with Hunter being placed on the exempt list under the NFL's personal conduct policy.

The Sept. 3 preliminary hearing date is the same day the Titans play their final preseason game. Tennessee faces the Minnesota Vikings at Nissan Stadium at 7 p.m.

Hunter, 24, was a standout athlete at Ocean Lakes High School in Virginia Beach. At Tennessee he played in 28 games over three seasons, making 17 starts. At the time he entered the NFL, he ranked 11th on Tennessee's all-time receptions list with 106. He had 1,812 receiving yards and 18 touchdowns for the Vols.

The Titans traded up six spots in the second round of the 2013 draft to pick Hunter. In 26 games, he has had eight starts, 46 receptions, 852 yards and seven touchdowns. He missed the final four games of the 2014 season after he was injured against the New York Giants on Dec. 7.

The Titans drafted Dorial Green-Beckham in the second round of the 2015 draft. Green-Beckham was expected to push Hunter for playing time when camp begins later this month.

Hunter has not commented on his Twitter feed, @justinhunter_11, since June 18.