Florida State has dismissed running back Mario Pender from the program after being arrested Saturday. Pender was charged for domestic battery by strangulation and resisting an officer without violence by the Tallahassee Police Department. The domestic battery charge is considered a third-degree felony. Bond was reportedly set at $500. The details of the incident have not been reported.
“Mario Pender has been permanently dismissed from the football team following his arrest earlier in the day,” a statement released by Florida State said Saturday night said. “The Athletics Department will have no further comment at this time.”
This is not the first time Pender has faced a battery allegation either. In high school, Pender faced charges for battery and grand theft but the state dropped the case when the woman (Pender’s ex-girlfriend) making the allegations failed to cooperate with the investigation. Pender was linked to another incident at Florida State in which his debit card was stolen by former Florida State offensive lineman Ira Denson. Pender then stole Denson’s shoes and a meeting to exchange the stolen items got ugly. Denson was dismissed from the team.
Pender’s dismissal comes after Florida State has taken measures to address how its players treat women, which came about following the dismissal of freshman quarterback De’Andre Johnson, who was caught on video throwing a punch at a female in a club. Florida State head coach Jimbo Fisher said at the time there was no tolerance for hitting women.
Pender was Florida State’s third-leading rusher in 2015 with 140 rushing yards and a touchdown behind Dalvin Cook and freshman Jacques Patrick. The junior has had a rough time since joining the Florida State program despite being a four-star talent out of high school.
