A former UTEP football player was sentenced to probation after pleading guilty to choking his 21-week pregnant girlfriend and headbutting her multiple times, court records show.
Jaylon Edmondson Shelton pleaded guilty to one count of assault causing bodily injury to a family member on Feb. 24, court records show.
Judge Ben L. Ivey III of the 120th Judicial District Court sentenced Shelton to two years of probation and 100 hours of community service, El Paso County court records show.
Shelton pleaded guilty as part of a plea agreement with the El Paso District Attorney’s Office. A charge of assault of a pregnant person was dismissed as part of the plea agreement. Court records also show a previous charge of unlawful restraint was declined by the district attorney’s office.
He was accused of choking his 21-week pregnant girlfriend, slamming her onto a bed and headbutting her multiple times during a domestic violence incident in 2025, court documents state.
Shelton was formerly a backup cornerback for UTEP. He transferred from Texas State to UTEP. He played 11 games in 2024 with the Miners, compiling 26 tackles.
He was suspended by UTEP after his arrest. He last played college football for Prairie View A&M in 2025.
He was one of 23 players invited to a tryout with the Atlanta Falcons in early May, Sports Illustrated reported. No records show if Shelton made the team.
Aaron Martinez covers the criminal justice system for the El Paso Times. He may be reached at amartinez1@elpasotimes.com.
Times reporter Bret Bloomquist contributed to this story.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Former UTEP football player pleads guilty, sentenced in assualt case