Quarterback Jameis Winston from Florida State, a Heisman Trophy Finalist, was cleared by Leon County State Attorney Willie Meggs last week.
Meggs’ office decided to not charge Winston, while at the same time acknowledging ”shortcomings” with the investigation.
Meggs at one point remarked that there was ”evidence of a sexual assault” although he later clarified that to mean statements from the victim as well as physical evidence such as Winston’s DNA being found in the underwear of the accuser.
Meggs said the decision to not charge Winston was based on the question of whether enough evidence existed to prove a rape charge – and his investigators concluded there was not. Last week, he said there were too many gaps in the accuser’s story.
Video
The victim’s attorney, Patricia Carroll called on the attorney general to investigate the Tallahassee Police Department’s handling of the case, saying that detectives failed to interview key witnesses, used unreliable and incomplete forensic tests and never tested the alleged victim’s blood for the presence of date-rape drugs.
”It appears to me to be a complete failure of an investigation of a rape case,” Carroll said during the 90-minute news conference.
But it is unlikely that any action will be taken by the state to revisit the case. Only Florida Gov. Rick Scott can appoint a special prosecutor to review how the case was handled.
“It was very obvious as this progressed that we didn’t feel like we were going to get a proper investigation,” Carroll said.
The attorney continued to accuse the Tallahassee Police Department of conducting a “flawed investigation”.
The Heisman Trophy finalists are, from left, Auburn running back Tre Mason, Northern Illinois quarterback Jordan Lynch, Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston, Boston College running back Andre Williams, and Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel.
The winner of the Heisman Trophy will be announced, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2013 on ESPN.
Matthew Wilder > NCAA Football : QB Winston Cleared of Sexual Assault
http://www.theinscribermag.com/jameis-winston-not-charge-sexual-assault/