Irvin Was Unaware of Earlier Scheduled Court Date : Jurisprudence: Attorney says former Ram defensive back missed appearance because of miscommunication.

A breakdown in communication between LeRoy Irvin and his former attorney led to the arrest of the former professional football player July 21 on suspicion of spousal abuse, his new attorney said Friday.

Attorney Milton Grimes said Irvin, a Cal State Northridge assistant coach last fall and former All-Pro defensive back for the Rams, was arrested because he failed to appear in court earlier this month for a preliminary hearing on the same charge.

Grimes said Irvin was in custody for six days in Los Angeles County Jail until he was freed after posting $10,000 bail Wednesday night.

Irvin then returned to an unspecified drug-and-alcohol rehabilitation center to complete treatment.

Irvin is scheduled to appear at a preliminary hearing Aug. 18.

Grimes said he didn’t know if Irvin planned to continue coaching at Northridge and Matador Coach Bob Burt said he hadn’t talked to Irvin for several weeks.

“I’m not going to comment on that without knowing all the facts,” Burt said. “He wasn’t with us for spring practice. He said he would be back in the fall, but I haven’t talked to him since June.”

Irvin was first arrested on suspicion of spousal abuse after an argument with his estranged wife in February. Grimes said Irvin was unaware he missed the July 7 court date until last week.

“He went to court and posted a $5,500 bail (in June),” Grimes said. “He then went into rehab on (June 29) and called his (former) attorney to tell him but couldn’t reach him, so he left a message. He didn’t know then that he had a court date on July 7.”

Grimes said Irvin later learned through the friend who posted his original bail that he missed the court appearance.

“He gets to court on (July 21), walks in on his own, and they arrest him and lock him up with a $10,000 bail,” Grimes said. “He wasn’t trying to flee or anything. He just didn’t know.”

Grimes, who said that Irvin’s estranged wife wants to drop the charges, found the $10,000 bail exorbitant.

He attempted to have the amount reduced but failed.

“I don’t think the prosecution or the judge would have been as adamant about the (amount of the) bail if it wasn’t because of the (O.J.) Simpson case,” Grimes said. “Especially in light of the fact that the wife didn’t want to pursue it.”