Jameis Winston, a star quarterback for the Florida State University football team, is involved in a developing sexual assault case stemming from 2012. Winston’s accuser, by way of an attorney, has issued a statement from the woman’s family alleging that Tallahassee police warned her against pressing charges.
The family of the unnamed accuser released the statement via the Tampa Bay Times Wednesday (Nov. 20), throwing barbs towards investigators and raising questions. The statement says the family was warned that Tallahassee was a “big football town and the victim needs to think long and hard before proceeding against him because she will be raked over the coals and her life will be made miserable.”
On December 7 last year, the victim reported the alleged assault and police responded accordingly by providing a sexual assault kit. On Tuesday , a sample obtained from the victim’s underwear matched the DNA of Winston. The 19-year-old Heisman Trophy hopeful leading the second-ranked Seminoles has not been charged of a crime, but it appears the case going public has sparked nationwide interest.
Initially, the accuser didn’t name Winston as her attacker. Back in January, she named the player as the one who assaulted her but according to Tallahassee police, the victim was edging towards not pressing charges and maintains facts coming forward are not true.
“We fully understand there is immense interest in this nationwide case,” said interim police chief Tom Coe said. “My role as police chief is to protect the rights of everyone involved, the integrity of this investigation and to make sure it’s conducted fairly and impartially.”
Tim Jansen, a Tallahassee attorney representing Winston, says his client had consensual sex with the victim at a press conference earlier today in response to an ESPN.com report about the test leaked to the network.
“We are not surprised with the results of the DNA,” Jansen said. “We voluntarily submitted to a DNA, the only thing we are surprised by is it was leaked out by law enforcement. The question the people should ask is why is it being leaked? For what purpose?”
Jansen added that they knew the DNA was found and that Winston never denied being there. The attorney says Winston will be clear of all charges based on eyewitness accounts. State Attorney Willie Meggs stated the case could be over by next week.
Watch news of Winston’s DNA test below. Hit the next page to see the statement from Winston’s attorney.
[AP & Tallahasse.com]
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Photo: Screen Cap
