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Hedge Fund Founder Pearl Is Cleared of N.Y. Assault Charges

Hickory Lane Hedge Fund Founder Cleared of Assault Charges

Assault charges against Hickory Lane Capital Management founder Joshua Pearl were dropped by New York prosecutors after they said they didn’t have enough evidence to prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt.

Pearl, 40 was arrested last month and charged with assault after a June 2 incident in lower Manhattan involving a 36-year-old woman, according to police. The charges against him were dismissed after a brief court appearance in Manhattan on Monday. The case was sealed and a protective order vacated.

Court records show that Pearl was charged with misdemeanors including assault with intent to cause physical injury and aggravated harassment.

Read More: Hedge Fund Manager Charged With Assault in Matrimonial Dispute

“We thank the district attorney for so quickly dismissing charges that were so clearly false,” Pearl’s attorney, Robert Gottlieb, said in a statement. After last month’s arrest Gottlieb said the charges were “manufactured, baseless allegations made as part of an unfortunate matrimonial dispute.”

Randi Isaacs, a lawyer for Pearl’s wife, said “in the interests of the parties and their young children the matter is being handled privately.” Isaacs also said that “the terms of a private agreement” between the parties and their counsel “prevent me from responding to Mr. Gottlieb’s comment.”

A spokesperson for Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment on the dropping of the charges.

Hickory Lane is an equity hedge fund that Pearl, a former Brahman Capital partner, started last July. It focuses on the technology, media and telecommunications, industrial and consumer sectors, as well as in special situations.

©2021 Bloomberg L.P.