Jameis Winston Decision 2pm

[WakeUpEchoes]

Can you imagine the outrage if he won the Heisman and a national title... then got charged with rape? My god.

I think the NCAA could still strip it.

 

[sfk324]

the other thing i found strange was espn claims he can still be charged but will not be charged at this time. WTF!

That's pretty standard. If they get more evidence in the future, they can elect to file at that time. I'm unfamiliar with FL law, but (as a for example) in the state I'm licensed, this would be a Class X felony and the issue of statute of limitations is 10 years. This essentially is just a determination that charges won't be filed, not that Winston is exonerated of wrongdoing.

 

[WakeUpEchoes]

the other thing i found strange was espn claims he can still be charged but will not be charged at this time. WTF!

There would be no way that they could say he will NEVER be charged. New evidence could pop up, statutory of limitations is 4 years in Florida on first degree rape.

 

[ACamp1900]

I think the NCAA could still strip it.

Pretty sure the NCAA has no power over the Heisman whatsoever...

 

[domerfreak]

I think the NCAA could still strip it.

true but i think wooly means fan reaction. the fact that this took 11 months to make it to meggs desk is beyond excusable and smells fishy to say the least. then turn around and charge him three months down the road = complete meltdown

 

[ACamp1900]

I was in wait and see mode, just like with Trayvon and other national stories... if the DA had any reason to believe his guilt and had any amount of evidence to move forward I believe they would have charged him... innocent until proven guilty... let the kid alone...

 

[Pops Freshenmeyer]

Not surprised at all they won't charge. I do find it strange the ESPN report states they could not secure an indictment. I thought there was enough to get an indictment, but not a conviction. Meggs has insisted he would not charge unless there was a reasonable likelihood of a conviction, which to me made today a foregone conclusion.

EDIT: The language I found strange has now been removed from the ESPN story. It read something along the lines of "the source said no charges would be filed because Meggs felt he could not secure an indictment."

Couldn't secure an indictment is not an explanation. The Grand Jury in basically every jurisdiction always takes its cue from the DA. If he indicated he wanted to press the case he would have an indictment.

 

[WakeUpEchoes]

Pretty sure the NCAA has no power over the Heisman whatsoever...

Sorry, the Trust could.

 

[Emcee77]

Couldn't secure an indictment is not an explanation. The Grand Jury in basically every jurisdiction always takes its cue from the DA. If he indicated he wanted to press the case he would have an indictment.

Right, the victim's identification of him as the attacker and his DNA in her underwear are enough to get an indictment, no question. The State's Attorney just doesn't think Winston's the guy, that's all.

 

[wizards8507]

I was in wait and see mode, just like with Trayvon and other national stories... if the DA had any reason to believe his guilt and had any amount of evidence to move forward I believe they would have charged him... innocent until proven guilty... let the kid alone...

I'm not a fan of that argument. "Innocent until proven guilty" applies to the legal system so we're not locking people up unless we can prove their guilt. I don't have to use that standard when I form personal opinions about people. I can apply whatever standard I'd like, whether it's "beyond a reasonable doubt," "a preponderance of the evidence," "yeah, he probably did it," or "I don't like his face, so there." OJ Simpson is a murderer, even if he wasn't "proven guilty" in a court of law. Michael Jackson was a weirdo creep who probably did stuff with little boys, even though I can't prove it beyond a reasonable doubt.

 

[ryno 24]

As someone who wants to be a prosecutor, I know part of the deal is wanting to win the case, but I am suprised that they did not at least take this court and get an indictment

 

[sfk324]

Couldn't secure an indictment is not an explanation. The Grand Jury in basically every jurisdiction always takes its cue from the DA. If he indicated he wanted to press the case he would have an indictment.

That's my point. He has been consistently saying two things: 1. he would not go before a grand jury; 2. he would not file charges unless there was a reasonable likelihood of conviction. The original report's language that he did not feel he could secure an indictment made no sense in light of those two things, especially the first. I suspect he will make some sort of statement that implies #2 above.

 

[ryno 24]

Also, dealing with the Trayvon Martin case the original DA did not want to press charges and the cops did not want to press charges, I still believe the state attorney made a good decision by taking that to court.

 

[Emcee77]

That's my point. He has been consistently saying two things: 1. he would not go before a grand jury; 2. he would not file charges unless there was a reasonable likelihood of conviction. The original report's language that he did not feel he could secure an indictment made no sense in light of those two things, especially the first. I suspect he will make some sort of statement that implies #2 above.

Oh I see. I didn't know that he had said he wouldn't go before a grand jury. I wonder why not.

The news article was probably just inaccurate, unless it was a direct quote. I feel like most people don't understand the process of bringing charges or the difference between different charging instruments.

 

[sfk324]

Oh I see. I didn't know that he had said he wouldn't go before a grand jury. I wonder why not.

The news article was probably just inaccurate, unless it was a direct quote. I feel like most people don't understand the process of bringing charges or the difference between different charging instruments.

I found the "no grand jury" stance curious as well. Agreed on the last part---watching Law & Order does not equal knowledge of the legal system.

 

[domerfreak]

meggs press conference was interesting...up to this point i thought winston and this girl knew each other prior to the alleged assault and she claims they did not. she also claims she had consensual sex with her boyfriend that also did not know winston. Now im really conflicted.

 

[woolybug25]

meggs press conference was interesting...up to this point i thought winston and this girl knew each other prior to the alleged assault and she claims they did not. she also claims she had consensual sex with her boyfriend that also did not know winston. Now im really conflicted.

That's my confliction. Not only did she not know him, but she immedietely got a rape kit done.

 

[Kak7304]

I'm not a fan of that argument. "Innocent until proven guilty" applies to the legal system so we're not locking people up unless we can prove their guilt. I don't have to use that standard when I form personal opinions about people. I can apply whatever standard I'd like, whether it's "beyond a reasonable doubt," "a preponderance of the evidence," "yeah, he probably did it," or "I don't like his face, so there." OJ Simpson is a murderer, even if he wasn't "proven guilty" in a court of law. Michael Jackson was a weirdo creep who probably did stuff with little boys, even though I can't prove it beyond a reasonable doubt.

Agreed. Unable to prove guilt and innocence are not the same thing. I'm sure what actually happened that night is in some gray area where she was drunk and he took advantage of her but since alcohol was involved, no one really knows what happened that night and that is why this case isn't moving forward.

 

[Emcee77]

meggs press conference was interesting...up to this point i thought winston and this girl knew each other prior to the alleged assault and she claims they did not. she also claims she had consensual sex with her boyfriend that also did not know winston. Now im really conflicted.

That's my confliction. Not only did she not know him, but she immedietely got a rape kit done.

Yeah, I'm with you guys ... this is the part that seems bad for Jameis. To the extent she's saying that she did not know him, it also helps her credibiliity-- if I understand this correctly -- that she took a month to identify him.

We just don't have all the facts so I don't want to leap to conclusions, but I can't help but feel like there's something fishy.

 

[Kak7304]

This public announcement and media circus are despicable. Any victim who encounters a similar situation in the future will be hesitant to come forward because the last thing a rape victim wants is the case to be publicized.

 

[sfk324]

This public announcement and media circus are despicable. Any victim who encounters a similar situation in the future will be hesitant to come forward because the last thing a rape victim wants is the case to be publicized.

Yep, especially now that no charges will be filed and the mouth-breathers will equate that to Winston was totally innocent and she was a slooty gold-digger. I don't know what happened, however, after the press conference, I'm more inclined to believe she did not consent than I am the stuff that has been spouted from FSU circles. I do know, however, that her life is going to be significantly more difficult for the foreseeable future.

Edit: seeing some of the other comments Meggs made on the conference, it makes more sense why they didn't pursue charges. Specifically, the cnn.com report of the press conference gives a more complete account of his statement that isn't found in some of the others, and suggests Meggs' determination was no crime occurred. FWIW, our old friend Ronald Darby was one of the witnesses according to TMZ's latest update.

 

[STLDomer]

Sorry if already mentioned but Darby was one of Jameis' teammates heavily mentioned in the case

Check out @JeffBurlew's Twitter feed

 

[IrishLax]

Sorry if already mentioned but Darby was one of Jameis' teammates heavily mentioned in the case

Check out @JeffBurlew's Twitter feed

The TMZ article on the whole situation with the accounts from Darby and the other teammate is... really not trying to make light of the situation... borderline hilarious in some spots.

I know there is a lot of "uncertainty" in this case but either everyone but the accuser is lying in a very convincing, consistent way... or she is completely full of it.

 

[connor_in]

Sorry if already mentioned but Darby was one of Jameis' teammates heavily mentioned in the case

Check out @JeffBurlew's Twitter feed

Per a Mike & Mike interview today (forgot guy's name) Winston and the girl went into a room with a broken door and when Darby and the other witness saw what was going on they wanted to get pics/vids of this and either Winston and/or the girl said no. But apparently the guys still watched and told investigators that it was consensual.

 

[PANDFAN]

Jameis Winston's teammate Chris Casher -- the witness who told cops JW didn't rape his accuser -- also told police he and the FSU quarterback would often share chicks sexually ... and TMZ Sports has learned, that kind of teammate relationship is shockingly common at colleges across the country.

In the police report, obtained by TMZ, cops say Casher stated that when he went into Jameis' bedroom during his sexual encounter with the accuser, he also asked "if [she] would engage in sexual activity with him as well."

Casher explained that kind of situation had happened in the past with other women they had brought to their apartment.

Read more: Jameis Winston -- TEAMMATE GROUP SEX ... Runs Rampant In College | TMZ.com

 

[ThePiombino]

Jameis Winston's teammate Chris Casher -- the witness who told cops JW didn't rape his accuser -- also told police he and the FSU quarterback would often share chicks sexually ... and TMZ Sports has learned, that kind of teammate relationship is shockingly common at colleges across the country.

In the police report, obtained by TMZ, cops say Casher stated that when he went into Jameis' bedroom during his sexual encounter with the accuser, he also asked "if [she] would engage in sexual activity with him as well."

Casher explained that kind of situation had happened in the past with other women they had brought to their apartment.

Read more: Jameis Winston -- TEAMMATE GROUP SEX ... Runs Rampant In College | TMZ.com

As per the Eskimo Brother Database?

 

[pkt77242]

I found parts of this article interesting Attorney asks Fla. AG to investigate Winston case - NBC Sports | NBC Sports

In particular this part

The lead detective got a search warrant for her client's cell phone and social media accounts but failed to do the same for Winston and his two companions immediately after the accusations were made, Carroll said.

"The bulk of the investigation was into the rape victim," she said. "I'm looking at an investigation of a rape victim, not a rape suspect."

 

[WakeUpEchoes]

I found parts of this article interesting Attorney asks Fla. AG to investigate Winston case - NBC Sports | NBC Sports

In particular this part

The lead detective got a search warrant for her client's cell phone and social media accounts but failed to do the same for Winston and his two companions immediately after the accusations were made, Carroll said.

"The bulk of the investigation was into the rape victim," she said. "I'm looking at an investigation of a rape victim, not a rape suspect."

Ronald Darby, FYI.

 

[IrishLax]

I found parts of this article interesting Attorney asks Fla. AG to investigate Winston case - NBC Sports | NBC Sports

In particular this part

The lead detective got a search warrant for her client's cell phone and social media accounts but failed to do the same for Winston and his two companions immediately after the accusations were made, Carroll said.

"The bulk of the investigation was into the rape victim," she said. "I'm looking at an investigation of a rape victim, not a rape suspect."

Doesn't pass smell test to me. Seems like the accuser was never credible, and rather than do the Duke Lacrosse rush-to-arrest they tried to vet the credibility of the accuser. Once it became obvious there was no case and the accuser failed to follow up, they stopped pursuing it. Then when Winston was peaking, they saw an opportunity to make some $$ and started leaking it to different media outlets.

 

[ClausentoTate]

Ronald Darby, FYI.

On Nov. 13, after Tallahassee police turned the case over to Meggs and his staff, Tim Jansen, Winston's attorney, provided them with sworn affidavits from FSU players Casher and Ronald Darby, who said they were in the apartment on the night of the alleged incident. In eight-paragraph statements, Casher and Darby said the accuser followed them out of a bar and willingly climbed into a cab with them. Both players said the woman did not appear to be intoxicated and "was able to have a conversation with us," according to copies of the affidavits.

Darby is 19 btw... I have to assume the others are too.