Elijah Dukes

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By MARC LANCASTER
The Tampa Tribune

PLANT CITY - Elijah Dukes and his estranged wife NiShea agreed last night to a one-year injunction in which he will stay away from his wife.

The arrangement was announced this morning during a hearing in a Plant City courtroom.

NiShea Dukes had filed a petition for a temporary injunction for protection against domestic violence.

On April 30, Dukes, a 6-foot-2, 250-pound rookie centerfielder for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, showed up at Beth Shields Middle School in Ruskin where his wife teaches, and was “very irate,” according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, which issued a trespass warning.

Later Dukes left a message on his wife’s cell phone, threatening to kill her and the children, according to NiShea Dukes. He also text messaged her a photo of a gun, she says.

Dukes was not in the courtroom today.

Judge William P. Levens signed off on the agreement, while ordering that Dukes take a psychological examination before visitation rights are determined for his two children. The agreement is reviewable after six months, the judge said. Child support and alimony will be reviewed at a later date, the parties agreed.

NiShea Dukes’ attorney Dale Gabbard said he hopes the parties would be able to work out an alimony agreement between themselves.

Levens said he preferred that if the Devil Rays have a team psychologist, the examination be performed by that person. If not, the judge said he was hopeful Dukes could be examined by a psychologist with some sports training.

“I’m just happy they granted it for a year,” said NiShea Dukes. “And I can move forward.”

When asked what the last few weeks have been like, she said, “hell.”

Dukes’ attorney, Tamara Dudley would not comment at length.

“They mutually agreed to the injunction,” she said.

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