District Attorney says allegation cannot be proven beyond a reasonable doubt

[Arch Stanton]

District Attorney says allegation cannot be proven beyond a reasonable doubt

Posted by Mike Florio on April 12, 2010 2:05 PM ET
As reported by ESPN on Friday, Ocmulgee (Ga.) Judicial Circuit D.A. Fred Bright has announced that charges will not be pursued against Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.

Bright announced that the allegation of sexual assault cannot be proven beyond a reasonable doubt, and that Roethlisberger will not be prosecuted.

More to come.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.co...n-cannot-be-proven-beyond-a-reasonable-doubt/

 

[jobberone]

Now what will the commish do if anything?

 

[Hoofbite]

Now what will the commish do if anything?

Probably nothing.

Rapo got lucky. Really lucky.

 

[CIWhitefish]

So no criminal charges...wonder if a civil suit is waiting in the wings.

 

[Arch Stanton]

No charges against Roethlisberger

Associated Press
MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. -- Authorities in Georgia won't charge Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger after a 20-year-old college student said he sexually assaulted her.

District Attorney Fred Bright made the announcement Monday.

The student had told police that Roethlisberger sexually assaulted her last month at a nightclub in the central Georgia college town of Milledgeville.

Bright says questions still persist about what happened between Roethlisberger and the student inside a bathroom at the club.

Roethlisberger, who is 28, owns a home about 30 miles north of Milledgeville on Lake Oconee.

He also is being sued by a woman who claims he raped her in 2008 at a hotel and casino in Lake Tahoe, an allegation he strongly denies.


Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

 

[zrinkill]

 

[JustDezIt]

sounded kinda fishy that she asked for the charges not to be prosecuted, and that the tapes were deleted. I personally think that this sets a bad example for females in this country, because they are basically saying if there is no other evidence then dont even bother reporting it. I guess if your gonna get raped you better set up a camera or something. smh

 

[Arch Stanton]

Alleged victim said on March 17 that she wanted to drop the case

Posted by Mike Florio on April 12, 2010 2:16 PM ET
Lost in the much-hyped announcement that Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger won't face charges for sexual assault is the fact that, as District Attorney Fred Bright said Monday, the alleged victim's lawyer told Bright on March 17 that she no longer wished to pursue the matter.

Bright said he met with the alleged victim and her family 10 days ago, and they confirmed that they did not want to pursue the matter.

So why the dog and pony show? This one is a no brainer. If the victim doesn't want to proceed, it would be even harder for Bright and company to get a conviction.

And the outcome leaves open the door that Roethlisberger's lawyers quickly and quietly settled the claim in the days between March 5 and March 17. We're not saying that it occurred this way, but this is the way it would go down if a secret and confidential payment had been made.

 

[Yeagermeister]

No shocker

 

[playmakers]

What do you guys think? Guilty? The one guy on the NFL Network just said he thinks he paid them off that's why they dropped the suit.

 

[Arch Stanton]

Twitter.....

mortreport

DA provided lot of detail; just said on SC I believe Goodell was still disgusted by what he heard, as are Rooneys

mortreport

DA: Roethlisberger provided alcohol; accuser led by bodyguard to bathroom; Ben followed.

 

[Yeagermeister]

What do you guys think? Guilty? The one guy on the NFL Network just said he thinks he paid them off that's why they dropped the suit.

I think money changed hands also

 

[HoleInTheRoof]

Twitter.....

mortreport

DA provided lot of detail; just said on SC I believe Goodell was still disgusted by what he heard, as are Rooneys

What?

 

[zrinkill]

Even if it was not rape.


Isn't having sex in the bathroom of a public place illegal? And is it putting the league in a bad light?

 

[Chief]

Party on, Ben.

 

[bigE79]

 

[Arch Stanton]

What?

Let me translate.....

Twitter.....

mortreport

DA provided lot of detail; just said on SC I believe Goodell was still disgusted by what he heard, as are Rooneys

 

[WoodysGirl]

Mort reports Ben could be placed in substance-abuse program

Posted by Michael David Smith on April 12, 2010 2:41 PM ET

Following ESPN's coverage of Ocmulgee (Ga.) Judicial Circuit D.A. Fred Bright's press conference, reporter Chris Mortensen suggested that Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger could be forced to enter the league's substance-abuse program.

Speaking of Bright's comments, Mortensen said, "You hear him say Ben Roethlisberger provided alcohol to the accuser, the lades in that group. That a bodyguard escorted the young lady, the accuser, down to the bathroom, and then Ben followed her into the bathroom. I think those facts alone -- as you know, under the personal-conduct policy, you don't need charges, you don't need a conviction.

"And if Commissioner Goodell is going to factor in an incident at Lake Tahoe more than a year ago, then I would say that Ben Roethlisberger is definitely facing some type of disciplinary action, definitely is going to probably be placed in the substance-abuse program, at the very least. Probably undergo some kind of clinical evaluation, and, I might add, the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Rooney family that owns the club, they are certainly poised to establish some type of disciplinary action against the quarterback."

Regarding the substance-abuse program, Mortensen didn't say whether this was merely his own speculation or whether he's heard from sources that Roethlisberger is likely to undergo substance-abuse treatment. (It was also a little confusing that Mortensen said both "definitely" and "probably.") The league's substance-abuse program is supposed to be confidential, so if Roethlisberger were to get league-mandated substance-abuse treatment, that fact might never become public.

But Mortensen believes this is a case the NFL and the Steelers are taking very seriously, despite the fact that no charges will be filed.

"My gut feeling," Mortensen said, "is there will be some type of suspension."

 

[Four]

not to dredge up the OJ trial, but even he looked surprised the gloves didn't fit.

 

[Chief]

.... Probably undergo some kind of clinical evaluation ...

Here's my "clinical evaluation:" Not-so-Gentle Ben is a sleeze bag.

Enjoy your hero, Steeler fans.