Lugo was mentioned in some trade-related news several years ago until this minor blemish to his reputation. On April 30, 2003, Lugo was arrested and charged with assulting his wife, Mabely Lugo, outside of Minute Maid Park in Houston before playing the Atlanta Braves. Mabely was treated and released from a hospital, and filed a restraining order against Julio. Mabely originally contended that Julio punched her in the head and slammed her head into the windshield of their car. Julio contested that he was acting in self-defense by blocking an attack by his wife, who hit herself and stumbled into the car, smashing her head into the windshield. Mabely later changed her story to coordinate with her husband's, and dropped the restraining order, however Julio was still tried in court accused of misdemeanor assault. Julio was eventually found not guilty, and he has remained out of trouble from the public eye since this incident.