Julie Donaldson
Encyclopedia
Julie Anne Donaldson is a beauty queen
from Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida
who has competed in the Miss USA
pageant. She has also worked as a sportscaster
on the New York City
based network SportsNet New York
, Boston, Massachusetts television station WHDH-TV
7 and as an anchor for Comcast SportsNet’s Mid-Atlantic network. Donaldson is a graduate of the University of Florida
.
title in the state pageant held in Orlando, FL in July 2000. She had previously placed first runner-up to Kristin Ludecke in the previous year's pageant. Donaldson competed in the Miss USA 2001
pageant won by Kandace Krueger
of Texas
, but did not place. In July 2001 she passed on her title to Shannon Ford.
In 2006, Donaldson joined SportsNet New York
at the network's inception. She has made numerous reports from various sporting events covered by SNY, and hosts Mets Weekly
, a weekly program recapping New York Mets
games, trades, injuries, and other features. She just spent 2 years working for the network from 2006-2007.
Donaldson worked as a TV host for Miami Heat
's Heat TV. Prior to that, Donaldson went on to co-hostSports Rap on Fox Sports Net
Florida. Donaldson has also co-hosted "Softball 360" on Fox Sports Net National, as well as on Information Television Network co-hosting the PBS series Healthy Body Healthy Mind.
In February 2008 Donaldson was hired as the Boston Red Sox
New England Patriots
Boston Celtics
and Boston Bruins
reporter and fill-in sports anchor for Boston NBC affiliate WHDH-TV
7. She left the job in December 2008 seeking "a fresh start in a new market" in the wake of significant publicity related to her being a victim of domestic assault.
In June 2010, Donaldson was employed as a freelance reporter for Comcast SportsNet’s Mid-Atlantic network covering sports stories in the Washington, D.C.
area filling in for regular contributor Jill Sorenson while she’s was out on maternity leave.
"SportsNet Central," CSN's daily news program, premiered Oct. 4. The new show replaced CSN's "SportsNite" and "SportsDay," which are being re-launched as the new entity. "SportsNet Central" airs daily at 6 p.m., 10 p.m., 11 p.m. and 1 a.m., as well as multiple times each morning.
Chick Hernandez and network newcomer Julie Donaldson handle the 10 and 11 p.m. editions.
player for the Rumble. Donaldson testified that Lattimore, who she had dated since November 2007, had previously assaulted her at least four other times and detailed incidents at the Super Bowl
in Arizona
, and after a Boston Celtics
game against the Miami Heat
on March 30. Donaldson suffered broken bones in her face and says she will require eye surgery to correct the resulting nerve damage. Lattimore, who was arrested after the June 27 incident and charged with three counts of assault
and battery
and one count of indecent assault
, was ordered to be held without bail
until his trial in September. Lattimore has a prior criminal record with at least two other domestic violence
convictions.
Lattimore's defense filed a motion to have the case against him dismissed by claiming that the injuries sustained by Donaldson came as the result of consensual role-playing activity. The prosecution labeled the claim "a tactic to intimidate and embarrass the witness". In September 2008, after the motion failed, Lattimore plead guilty to the assault charges against him and was sentenced to serve a year in jail, with eligibility for parole
after 90 days (Lattimore was given an 89-day credit for time served). In addition to his sentence, Lattimore will be on probation
for five years and be required to undergo a batterer's treatment program.
In January 2009, Lattimore was sentenced to another year behind bars for sending letters to Donaldson after his conviction, thus serving a total of two years in jail.
In October 2009, Donaldson spoke out for the first time on her own terms about her own personal experience with domestic abuse. Taking part in both the 15th Annual Barbara Ann Campbell Memorial Breakfast for Hubbard House and the Take Back the Night Walk at the University of North Florida, Donaldson shared her message of hope.
Donaldson returned to Ponte Vedra Beach after leaving the Boston news station in November of last year. She found refuge in her family and from Hubbard House in Jacksonville.
"My biggest purpose [is that domestic violence] needs to be talked about," she said. "There is no stereotype [in domestic violence situations]. But you can get out. There is someone out there. You don’t have to pretend to be normal."
Donaldson has been working as a volunteer at the Hubbard House and said she is in the process of getting her life and career back on track.
Donaldson recently relocated to Washington, D.C. to work as an anchor and reporter for Comcast SportsNet's daily half-hour news program, SportsNite.
"I lost everything," Donaldson said. And now, she said, she has it all back. Donaldson is a domestic abuse survivor. Last October, she spoke with The Recorder to publicly told her story for the first time. In 2007, "It's taken a support system that believed in my recovery and never pushed me to go further than I was ready [for]," she said.
Donaldson spent her year on the First Coast working with Hubbard House in Jacksonville counseling women and healing herself. "People don't need to look away [from domestic abuse]," she said. "This is a community issue." Donaldson said it took perseverance to get where she is today — happily working in her dream job in D.C.
"I kept going and kept trying," she said. "Every no was discouraging but I believed and I knew what I wanted. I'm anchoring [for SportsNite]. It's amazing." She said she left Ponte Vedra in June to freelance and was officially offered the position at Comcast in August. She is currently the vice chairwoman of the Florida Coalition against Domestic Violence and plans to become active in the Washington D.C. community as well. "I want to take advantage of being in D.C.," she said. "I don't mind being a voice and a tool. Hopefully my story can help someone who can't."
She is excited about her new home and her new position. But most of all, Donaldson said she is thrilled to have her life back. "There is nothing I'm afraid of anymore," she said. "I'm so much more balanced."
Beauty Queen
"Beauty Queen" is the second song from Roxy Music's second album, For Your Pleasure. The lyrics refer to Ferry's girlfriend, Valerie Leon, one-time UK beauty queen, B-movie actress and model working in the Newcastle area, circa 1973.-Musicians:...
from Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida
Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida
Ponte Vedra Beach is an unincorporated seaside community in St. Johns County, Florida, United States. Located eighteen miles southeast of downtown Jacksonville and north of St. Augustine, it is part of the Jacksonville Beaches area. It is an upmarket tourist resort area best known for its...
who has competed in the Miss USA
Miss USA
The Miss USA beauty contest has been held annually since 1952 to select the United States entrant in the Miss Universe pageant. The Miss Universe Organization operates both pageants, as well as Miss Teen USA...
pageant. She has also worked as a sportscaster
Sportscaster
In sports broadcasting, a commentator gives a running commentary of a game or event in real time, usually during a live broadcast. The comments are normally a voiceover, with the sounds of the action and spectators also heard in the background. In the case of television commentary, the commentator...
on the New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
based network SportsNet New York
SportsNet New York
SportsNet New York is a New York City-based regional sports cable network which airs in the New York metro area and all of New York state, and nationwide via satellite. It is owned jointly by the New York Mets, Time Warner Cable, and NBCUniversal...
, Boston, Massachusetts television station WHDH-TV
WHDH-TV
WHDH, digital channel 42 , is an NBC-affiliated television station in Boston, Massachusetts. It is the largest NBC station not owned by the network. Owned by Sunbeam Television, WHDH is a sister station to CW affiliate WLVI...
7 and as an anchor for Comcast SportsNet’s Mid-Atlantic network. Donaldson is a graduate of the University of Florida
University of Florida
The University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
.
Career
Donaldson won the Miss Florida USAMiss Florida USA
The Miss Florida USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state Florida in the Miss USA pageant.While Florida has been successful in terms of runners-up, finalists and semi-finalists, the state has never won the Miss USA pageant, although Cheryl Patton became Miss USA...
title in the state pageant held in Orlando, FL in July 2000. She had previously placed first runner-up to Kristin Ludecke in the previous year's pageant. Donaldson competed in the Miss USA 2001
Miss USA 2001
Miss USA 2001, the 50th edition of the Miss USA pageant was held at the Genesis Convention Center, Gary, Indiana on March 2, 2001. The event was won by Kandace Krueger of Texas, who was crowned by outgoing queen Lynnette Cole of Tennessee....
pageant won by Kandace Krueger
Kandace Krueger
Kandace Gayle Krueger Matthews is an American television personality and former beauty queen who has held the Miss USA title. She was born and raised in Austin, Texas. She was born to Larry & Barbara Johnson Krueger...
of Texas
Miss Texas USA
The Miss Texas USA competition is the pageant who selects the representative for the state Texas in the Miss USA pageant. In turn, the winner of Miss USA competes for the title of Miss Universe....
, but did not place. In July 2001 she passed on her title to Shannon Ford.
In 2006, Donaldson joined SportsNet New York
SportsNet New York
SportsNet New York is a New York City-based regional sports cable network which airs in the New York metro area and all of New York state, and nationwide via satellite. It is owned jointly by the New York Mets, Time Warner Cable, and NBCUniversal...
at the network's inception. She has made numerous reports from various sporting events covered by SNY, and hosts Mets Weekly
Mets Weekly
-Background:The program provides an in-depth look at the lives of Mets players and coaches, as well as recaps of games from the previous week. It is hosted by Tiffany Simons. It premieres every Sunday at 6:00 PM...
, a weekly program recapping New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
games, trades, injuries, and other features. She just spent 2 years working for the network from 2006-2007.
Donaldson worked as a TV host for Miami Heat
Miami Heat
The Miami Heat is a professional basketball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. The team is a member of the Southeast Division in the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . They play their home games at American Airlines Arena in Downtown Miami...
's Heat TV. Prior to that, Donaldson went on to co-hostSports Rap on Fox Sports Net
Fox Sports Net
The Fox Sports Regional Networks, or simply Fox Sports Net , are a collection of cable TV regional sports networks in the United States owned and operated by News Corporation.- Beginnings :...
Florida. Donaldson has also co-hosted "Softball 360" on Fox Sports Net National, as well as on Information Television Network co-hosting the PBS series Healthy Body Healthy Mind.
In February 2008 Donaldson was hired as the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
New England Patriots
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
Boston Celtics
Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which...
and Boston Bruins
Boston Bruins
The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The team has been in existence since 1924, and is the league's third-oldest team and its oldest in the...
reporter and fill-in sports anchor for Boston NBC affiliate WHDH-TV
WHDH-TV
WHDH, digital channel 42 , is an NBC-affiliated television station in Boston, Massachusetts. It is the largest NBC station not owned by the network. Owned by Sunbeam Television, WHDH is a sister station to CW affiliate WLVI...
7. She left the job in December 2008 seeking "a fresh start in a new market" in the wake of significant publicity related to her being a victim of domestic assault.
In June 2010, Donaldson was employed as a freelance reporter for Comcast SportsNet’s Mid-Atlantic network covering sports stories in the Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
area filling in for regular contributor Jill Sorenson while she’s was out on maternity leave.
"SportsNet Central," CSN's daily news program, premiered Oct. 4. The new show replaced CSN's "SportsNite" and "SportsDay," which are being re-launched as the new entity. "SportsNet Central" airs daily at 6 p.m., 10 p.m., 11 p.m. and 1 a.m., as well as multiple times each morning.
Chick Hernandez and network newcomer Julie Donaldson handle the 10 and 11 p.m. editions.
Domestic assault
In July 2008, Donaldson testified in Boston Municipal Court hearing that she and two female guests had been assaulted at her apartment on June 27 by her then boyfriend Ivan Lattimore, a professional SlamballSlamball
Slamball is a form of basketball played with 4 trampolines in front of each net. It is played "full contact" and has boards around the court....
player for the Rumble. Donaldson testified that Lattimore, who she had dated since November 2007, had previously assaulted her at least four other times and detailed incidents at the Super Bowl
Super Bowl XLII
Super Bowl XLII was an American football game on February 3, 2008 that featured the National Football Conference champion New York Giants and the American Football Conference champion New England Patriots to decide the National Football League champion for the 2007 season...
in Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
, and after a Boston Celtics
Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which...
game against the Miami Heat
Miami Heat
The Miami Heat is a professional basketball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. The team is a member of the Southeast Division in the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . They play their home games at American Airlines Arena in Downtown Miami...
on March 30. Donaldson suffered broken bones in her face and says she will require eye surgery to correct the resulting nerve damage. Lattimore, who was arrested after the June 27 incident and charged with three counts of assault
Assault
In law, assault is a crime causing a victim to fear violence. The term is often confused with battery, which involves physical contact. The specific meaning of assault varies between countries, but can refer to an act that causes another to apprehend immediate and personal violence, or in the more...
and battery
Battery (crime)
Battery is a criminal offense involving unlawful physical contact, distinct from assault which is the fear of such contact.In the United States, criminal battery, or simply battery, is the use of force against another, resulting in harmful or offensive contact...
and one count of indecent assault
Indecent assault
Indecent assault is an offence of aggravated assault in many jurisdictions. It is characterised as a sex crime.Indecent assault was an offence in England and Wales under sections 14 and 15 the Sexual Offences Act 1956...
, was ordered to be held without bail
Bail
Traditionally, bail is some form of property deposited or pledged to a court to persuade it to release a suspect from jail, on the understanding that the suspect will return for trial or forfeit the bail...
until his trial in September. Lattimore has a prior criminal record with at least two other domestic violence
Domestic violence
Domestic violence, also known as domestic abuse, spousal abuse, battering, family violence, and intimate partner violence , is broadly defined as a pattern of abusive behaviors by one or both partners in an intimate relationship such as marriage, dating, family, or cohabitation...
convictions.
Lattimore's defense filed a motion to have the case against him dismissed by claiming that the injuries sustained by Donaldson came as the result of consensual role-playing activity. The prosecution labeled the claim "a tactic to intimidate and embarrass the witness". In September 2008, after the motion failed, Lattimore plead guilty to the assault charges against him and was sentenced to serve a year in jail, with eligibility for parole
Parole
Parole may have different meanings depending on the field and judiciary system. All of the meanings originated from the French parole . Following its use in late-resurrected Anglo-French chivalric practice, the term became associated with the release of prisoners based on prisoners giving their...
after 90 days (Lattimore was given an 89-day credit for time served). In addition to his sentence, Lattimore will be on probation
Probation
Probation literally means testing of behaviour or abilities. In a legal sense, an offender on probation is ordered to follow certain conditions set forth by the court, often under the supervision of a probation officer...
for five years and be required to undergo a batterer's treatment program.
In January 2009, Lattimore was sentenced to another year behind bars for sending letters to Donaldson after his conviction, thus serving a total of two years in jail.
In October 2009, Donaldson spoke out for the first time on her own terms about her own personal experience with domestic abuse. Taking part in both the 15th Annual Barbara Ann Campbell Memorial Breakfast for Hubbard House and the Take Back the Night Walk at the University of North Florida, Donaldson shared her message of hope.
Donaldson returned to Ponte Vedra Beach after leaving the Boston news station in November of last year. She found refuge in her family and from Hubbard House in Jacksonville.
"My biggest purpose [is that domestic violence] needs to be talked about," she said. "There is no stereotype [in domestic violence situations]. But you can get out. There is someone out there. You don’t have to pretend to be normal."
Donaldson has been working as a volunteer at the Hubbard House and said she is in the process of getting her life and career back on track.
Donaldson recently relocated to Washington, D.C. to work as an anchor and reporter for Comcast SportsNet's daily half-hour news program, SportsNite.
"I lost everything," Donaldson said. And now, she said, she has it all back. Donaldson is a domestic abuse survivor. Last October, she spoke with The Recorder to publicly told her story for the first time. In 2007, "It's taken a support system that believed in my recovery and never pushed me to go further than I was ready [for]," she said.
Donaldson spent her year on the First Coast working with Hubbard House in Jacksonville counseling women and healing herself. "People don't need to look away [from domestic abuse]," she said. "This is a community issue." Donaldson said it took perseverance to get where she is today — happily working in her dream job in D.C.
"I kept going and kept trying," she said. "Every no was discouraging but I believed and I knew what I wanted. I'm anchoring [for SportsNite]. It's amazing." She said she left Ponte Vedra in June to freelance and was officially offered the position at Comcast in August. She is currently the vice chairwoman of the Florida Coalition against Domestic Violence and plans to become active in the Washington D.C. community as well. "I want to take advantage of being in D.C.," she said. "I don't mind being a voice and a tool. Hopefully my story can help someone who can't."
She is excited about her new home and her new position. But most of all, Donaldson said she is thrilled to have her life back. "There is nothing I'm afraid of anymore," she said. "I'm so much more balanced."