Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston will not be charged in the case of alleged rape of another student.
Winston was facing felony charges for sexually assaulting a women at an off campus apartment on December 7, 2012. The woman alleged that she was raped and didn’t identify Winston as her attacker until January 10. DNA found in the woman’s underwear matched the DNA of Winston. Tim Jansen, who is Winston’s attorney, said that Winston had consensual sex with her. However Patricia Carroll, the woman’s attorney, says that Winston raped her client, according to ESPN. Winston has denied the allegations since they went public.
"We've carefully examined all the evidence in this case and have concluded that no charges will be brought against anyone in this case," Willie Meggs, the state attorney for the Second Judicial Circuit, said. "We have a duty as prosecutors to determine if each case has a reasonable likelihood of conviction. After reviewing the facts in this case, we do not feel that we can reach those burdens."
If Winston was charged with a felony, then he would have been immediately suspended from the team until the case was resolved, according to The Sports Xchange. Only “extraordinary circumstances” would have let Winston play if he had been charged.
Winston, who was named ACC Player of the Year on Wednesday, has thrown for 3,490 yards with 38 touchdowns and five interceptions in his first season. His passer rating of 192.6 leads the nation. He is a candidate for the Heisman trophy. Winston will lead Florida State in their game against Duke on Saturday, which is for the ACC championship. With a win on Saturday, Florida State, who is 12-0, 8-0 in the ACC, would go to the VIZIO BCS national Championship at Rose Bowl Stadium.