Knoblauch charged in domestic assault

Ed Betz, Associated Press

In this photo from 200, then-Yankees second baseman Chuck Knoblauch spoke with reporters before a game. He was charged with assaulting his common-law wife last Friday.

The former Twins infielder turned himself in after charges were filed in an attack on his wife.

By BOB VON STERNBERG, Star Tribune

Last update: September 29, 2009 - 11:33 PM

Former Twins second baseman Chuck Knoblauch is facing felony charges in his native Houston for hitting and choking his wife last Friday.

Knoblauch turned himself in to the Harris County, Texas, sheriff's office Tuesday morning after family violence assault charges were filed against him. He was released on $10,000 bond.

In addition to the criminal charges, a Harris County judge also granted a protective order against Knoblauch, meaning he is subject to arrest if he has any contact with his wife, Stacey Stelmach, 29.

According to a police report, officers were called to the Knoblauch home shortly after midnight Friday, said Lt. Bill Sala of the police department in Memorial Villages, a small community within the boundaries of Houston.

"Officers interviewed the woman, who said that in her opinion he was intoxicated, throwing stuff around, grabbing her, punching her a couple of times and choking her," Sala said. "She'd hidden all the keys and threw one set in the bushes, which he found and took off."

Knoblauch turned himself in after a Memorial Villages officer called and told him a warrant had been issued for his arrest.

The charges escalated from a misdemeanor to a third-degree felony because of the alleged choking, Sala said.

"It's a little bit of an odd case for us," he said. "It's a very affluent area and normally you don't hear about these cases because people don't want to air their dirty laundry."

Knoblauch's attorney did not immediately return a telephone call Tuesday.

The 41-year-old former infielder is a four-time All-Star who played for the Twins, New York Yankees and Kansas City Royals from 1991-2002.

He broke into the major leagues with the Twins and was named American League Rookie of the Year in 1991, the last time the team won the World Series.

A four-time All Star, Knoblauch was traded to the Yankees in 1997 after his relationship with the Twins had turned toxic.

Knoblauch was one of more than 80 players who were accused of using performance-enhancing drugs in the 2007 Mitchell Report on baseball's steroids era. Knoblauch later acknowledged using performance enhancers.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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