Singer Mario cleared: Mother says he never hit her

BALTIMORE (AP) - The artist, had been charged with second-degree assault for allegedly shoving his mother into a wall at their Baltimore home....

TheGrio Staff

Nov 4, 2010

BALTIMORE (AP) — Prosecutors have dropped misdemeanor assault charges against R&B singer and former “Dancing With the Stars” contestant Mario.

The artist, whose full name is Mario Barrett, had been charged with second-degree assault for allegedly shoving his mother into a wall at their Baltimore home.

But a spokesman for the Baltimore state’s attorney’s office says Mario’s mother, Shawntia Hardaway, changed her story on the witness stand Tuesday. Hardaway said she was under the influence of drugs and alcohol when she called police and that her son never laid a hand on her.

Mario’s attorney, Billy Murphy, says it was clear from the beginning that his client never struck his mother and that Mario “remains committed to helping his mother battle her addiction.”