Battery, grand theft charges dropped against former USF coach Jim Leavitt

Prosecutors in Clearwater, Florida, have dropped misdemeanor battery, domestic battery and a felony grand theft charge against former University of South Florida football coach Jim Leavitt, court filings show.

The state attorney’s office filed a motion Wednesday saying the “facts and circumstances” of the Aug. 25 arrest in St. Petersburg gave merit to closing the case after the two alleged victims declined to cooperate, according to the filing and multiple reports. St. Petersburg police had arrested Leavitt on allegations that he grabbed the right arm of his ex-girlfriend, Alexandra Saab, and later kept her Louis Vuitton purse, clutch and wallet. He also was accused of pushing a man identified as Robert Howard.

Leavitt, 68, told police he held onto Saab’s purse while trying to speak with her, according to an affidavit, and said Howard walked into him before a physical contact. State Attorney Bruce Bartlett told the Tampa Bay Times that both Saab and Howard told prosecutors they did not want to press charges and would not participate in the prosecution. “They said it was a misunderstanding and things got out of hand,” Bartlett said in comments reported by the newspaper.

Leavitt’s attorney, Lucas Fleming, said his client was relieved by the decision and appreciated the state’s “quick and thoughtful consideration on this matter,” the attorney told reporters.

Leavitt was the first head coach in USF football history and remains the program’s winningest coach with 95 victories. He led South Florida to a brief No. 2 national ranking during the 2007 season and is due to be inducted into USF’s athletics hall of fame next month for his contributions to the program.

The Aug. 25 arrest came decades after a high-profile episode that led to Leavitt’s dismissal from USF. In January 2010, Leavitt was fired after an internal investigation found he had grabbed walk-on running back Joel Miller by the throat and slapped him during a November 2009 game against Louisville. Leavitt denied the allegations and later settled a wrongful-termination lawsuit with the university for $2.75 million.

The most recent incident that led to the late-August arrest drew attention because of Leavitt’s long association with USF football and his upcoming hall of fame recognition. Court filings in the Clearwater state attorney’s office did not indicate plans to refile charges, citing the lack of cooperation from the alleged victims and the circumstances described in the filing.

Law enforcement reports and the affidavit released after the arrest described the alleged interactions at the center of the case: Saab was said to have been trying to walk away when Leavitt allegedly grabbed her arm; she later reported that personal items were taken and not returned. Leavitt acknowledged holding onto the purse while attempting to speak with Saab, the affidavit said. In the report concerning Howard, Leavitt denied initiating contact, saying the other man walked into him.

Prosecutors often weigh victim cooperation when deciding whether to pursue misdemeanor and felony charges. In this case, the state attorney’s office concluded that without the participation of Saab and Howard, there was insufficient basis to continue prosecution.

Leavitt’s career has combined significant on-field achievements with off-field controversies. After building the USF program from its early years into a nationally ranked team, his firing in 2010 marked a sharp turn in his relationship with the university. The settlement that followed resolved civil claims, but the earlier episode has remained a prominent part of his public record.

With the recent charges dismissed, Leavitt remains slated for recognition at USF’s upcoming hall of fame ceremony. His lawyer did not provide further comment beyond expressing relief at the prosecutors’ decision. The Clearwater state attorney’s office declined additional comment beyond the language in its court filing.