Shoni Schimmel, a former WNBA player, was arrested and charged with assaulting a former partner on the Umatilla Indian Reservation in northeastern Oregon on Friday.
According to The Oregonian/OregonLive, Schimmel, 29, has been charged with assault by strangulation of an intimate dating partner and assault resulting in serious bodily injury.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe incident is said to have occurred on June 13, 2021. Schimmel was arrested on June 14, last year, and was being held in the Umatilla County jail on felony assault and criminal mischief charges.
Schimmel was apprehended by federal officials on Friday and pleaded not guilty to the charges during his first appearance in federal court. Schimmel has been released pending the start of a two-day jury trial in June.
Embed from Getty ImagesSchimmel could face a maximum sentence of 15 years in federal prison, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine if convicted.
The FBI and the Umatilla Tribal Police Department investigated the case.
Schimmel averaged 6.6 points per game after being selected eighth overall in the 2014 draft by the Atlanta Dream. She spent 2 seasons with the team, making All-Star appearances both years and being titled Rookie of the Year, before being traded to the New York Liberty in 2016. Schimmel also appeared in two games for the Las Vegas Aces in 2018.
Schimmel was also named to the Associated Press second team All-American team in 2013-14. As a junior, she helped Louisville reach the NCAA women’s basketball championship game in 2013, where they were defeated by UConn.
