Shon Hopwood, a respected professor at Georgetown Law, is currently facing serious allegations of domestic violence and may potentially be looking at time behind bars, again. Hopwood’s story, a tale of redemption, is widely known within the legal profession. He served over a decade in federal prison for bank robbery, went through law school upon his release, and ultimately became a professor at Georgetown Law, one of the country’s leading legal institutions.
As reported by the Daily Mail, Hopwood has been accused of abusing his wife, Ann Marie Hopwood, both physically and verbally. Recent incidents include allegations of Hopwood locking her in the basement, and of causing numerous injuries including a broken finger and a chipped tooth. Ann Marie has now successfully secured an order of protection against Hopwood.
Since the onset of these situations, Hopwood has ceased teaching two of his courses at Georgetown. A representative from the institution, as cited by the Daily Mail, confirmed, “Prof. Shon Hopwood is currently not teaching at Georgetown Law.” Presently, Hopwood has pleaded not guilty to two misdemeanor assault charges and waits for trial. If convicted, he could potentially serve up to 360 days in prison, with each count carrying a term of 180 days.
It’s important to emphasize, if anyone is in a verbal or physically abusive relationship, there are various resources available for help. The National Domestic Violence Hotline, for instance, can be reached at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233).