FSU RAPE CRIMES COVERUP: JAMEIS WINSTON
NAAWP calls BULL$HYT
Nearly a year after Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston was accused of rape by a female
FSU student, the state attorney has decided not to charge the Heisman Trophy
favorite.
Thursday's decision clears the way
for Winston to finish the season with the No. 1 Seminoles.
More
Winston coverage on ESPN.com
Murky facts made it clear that
prosecutors could not file a sexual assault charge against Jameis Winston, ESPN
legal analyst Lester Munson writes. Story
Willie Meggs, the state attorney for
the Second Judicial Circuit, announced the move during a news conference at the
Leon County Courthouse. Winston had faced felony charges after being accused of
sexually assaulting the woman at an off-campus apartment on Dec. 7, 2012.
"We've carefully examined all
the evidence in this case and have concluded that no charges will be filed
against anyone in this case," Meggs said.
Meggs and his office had been
investigating the case for the past three weeks, and they interviewed the
accuser about two weeks ago. Last month, ESPN.com reported that DNA found in
the woman's underwear matched Winston's. His attorney, Tim Jansen of
Tallahassee, said Winston had consensual sex with the woman. But the woman's
attorney, Patricia Carroll of Tampa, Fla., said Winston raped her 19-year-old
client, who withdrew from classes after the allegations resurfaced in media
reports last month.
"We have a duty as prosecutors
to determine if each case has a reasonable likelihood of conviction,"
Meggs said. "After reviewing the facts in this case, we do not feel that
we can reach those burdens."
While the case could be reopened if
new evidence is found, Meggs indicated that he "had no earthly idea what
that would be."
Carroll released a statement shortly
after Meggs spoke.
"The victim and her family
appreciate the state attorney's efforts in attempting to conduct a proper
investigation after an inordinate delay by the Tallahassee Police
Department," the statement said. "The victim in this case had the
courage to immediately report her rape to the police and she relied upon them
to seek justice. The victim has grave concerns that her experience, as it
unfolded in the public eye and through social media, will discourage other
victims of rape from coming forward and reporting."
After hearing Meggs' decision,
Jansen said of his client: "He's absolutely innocent, and I'm glad and
pleased that Willie did a full investigation and found the same thing we did.
There's no evidence. He could not go forward with any charges."
He also said that he had spoken to
Winston.
"He was really happy. He's
relieved it's over, and now he's focused even more on football," Jansen
said.
Winston also released a statement,
saying: "It's been difficult to stay silent through this process, but I
never lost faith in the truth and in who I am."
Jansen said that Winston's legal
team has considered legal action.
"His reputation is important to
him," he said. "His career is important to him." He added that
certain organizations have done improper things, without naming those
organizations.
Earlier, Meggs was asked whether
Winston, possibly the most identifiable player in college football this year,
received preferential treatment in the case.
More
from ESPN.com
Jameis Winston has been in the
spotlight for much more than his play on the field. For a timeline of the
events in the sexual assault investigation that has surrounded him the past few
months, click here.
1)
http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=espn:10084401
2)
http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=espn:10084401&startTime=00:45
3)
http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/10082441/jameis-winston-not-charged-sexual-assault-investigation
LIST
of COLLEGE FOOTBALL SEX CRIMES going back into the 1970’s
4)
http://pwrfwd.net/2013/12/02/updated-a-list-of-college-football-rape-cases/
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION for the ADVANCEMENT
of WHITE PEOPLE
