Jurors needed less than three hours to reach their verdict in the highly-publicized rape trial of star University of Montana quarterback Jordan Johnson: Not guilty. ![silouette.jpg]()
For all the hype surrounding this case - up to and including an ongoing federal investigation into the university's handling of numerous sex offense allegations -- our Tacoma sex crimes defense lawyers know that this came down to a situation of he said-she said.
Usually, that is not enough to establish probable cause in a case, which is why this one probably should have never ended up before a jury in the first place. An experienced defense lawyer would fight aggressively to have a case like this dismissed before it ever reached a courtroom.
He faced up to 100 years in prison under state law if found guilty.
Here's what reportedly happened:
A 21-year-old female student reportedly invited the football player to her room, where they watched a movie. The female student said the two had been flirtatious with one another prior to the date. She picked him up and once he was in her room, the two began kissing. The woman said things quickly got out of hand and the defendant positioned himself on top of her, became aggressive and forced her to have sexual intercourse.
The defense, however, had a completely different story. They didn't deny that a sexual encounter occurred. However, they insisted that the woman had not only consented, she had encouraged and enjoyed the act. The defense further contended that the alleged victim had noted she didn't mind whether a condom was used. Her motive for the allegation, they contended, was that after the encounter, the defendant got up, said "Well, thanks" and left.
Slimy? Yes. Criminal? No.
After three weeks of intensive testimony, the jurors appeared to see through the case as well.
As for the defendant, the mere allegation has completely thrown his life off-track. He was suspended and later removed from the football team once the felony charge against him was filed. He was able to remain in school, but it's not clear whether he will return to the team.
It's hard to deny, though, that this student was caught up in a series of high-profile incidents involving the school and school athletes. In December 2011, the university president ordered an outside investigation after two students were reportedly raped after they had been drugged.
Then there was an investigation spearheaded by a former Supreme Court Justice, which reportedly revealed nine allegations of sexual assault or rape involving a student between the fall of 2010 and the fall of 2011. One of those led to another football player eventually pleading guilty to rape and being sentenced to a 10-year prison term.
Then, a dean of students was criticized after he reportedly alerted a foreign student to sexual assault allegations that were being made against him. That student fled the country before charges could be filed.
Then last spring, the state's education department launched an investigation into charges of discrimination for failure to address sexual assault claims. That investigation is ongoing, as is the one being conducted by the U.S. Justice Department into the school's handling of prior sexual assault investigations and prosecutions.
The bottom line in all of this is that university students may not at first realize the depth of the trouble they may be in when an allegation like this surfaces. As the parent, you may need to take matters into your own hands in securing an experienced lawyer. It could just be an investment that will rescue his future.
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For all the hype surrounding this case - up to and including an ongoing federal investigation into the university's handling of numerous sex offense allegations -- our Tacoma sex crimes defense lawyers know that this came down to a situation of he said-she said.
Usually, that is not enough to establish probable cause in a case, which is why this one probably should have never ended up before a jury in the first place. An experienced defense lawyer would fight aggressively to have a case like this dismissed before it ever reached a courtroom.
He faced up to 100 years in prison under state law if found guilty.
Here's what reportedly happened:
A 21-year-old female student reportedly invited the football player to her room, where they watched a movie. The female student said the two had been flirtatious with one another prior to the date. She picked him up and once he was in her room, the two began kissing. The woman said things quickly got out of hand and the defendant positioned himself on top of her, became aggressive and forced her to have sexual intercourse.
The defense, however, had a completely different story. They didn't deny that a sexual encounter occurred. However, they insisted that the woman had not only consented, she had encouraged and enjoyed the act. The defense further contended that the alleged victim had noted she didn't mind whether a condom was used. Her motive for the allegation, they contended, was that after the encounter, the defendant got up, said "Well, thanks" and left.
Slimy? Yes. Criminal? No.
After three weeks of intensive testimony, the jurors appeared to see through the case as well.
As for the defendant, the mere allegation has completely thrown his life off-track. He was suspended and later removed from the football team once the felony charge against him was filed. He was able to remain in school, but it's not clear whether he will return to the team.
It's hard to deny, though, that this student was caught up in a series of high-profile incidents involving the school and school athletes. In December 2011, the university president ordered an outside investigation after two students were reportedly raped after they had been drugged.
Then there was an investigation spearheaded by a former Supreme Court Justice, which reportedly revealed nine allegations of sexual assault or rape involving a student between the fall of 2010 and the fall of 2011. One of those led to another football player eventually pleading guilty to rape and being sentenced to a 10-year prison term.
Then, a dean of students was criticized after he reportedly alerted a foreign student to sexual assault allegations that were being made against him. That student fled the country before charges could be filed.
Then last spring, the state's education department launched an investigation into charges of discrimination for failure to address sexual assault claims. That investigation is ongoing, as is the one being conducted by the U.S. Justice Department into the school's handling of prior sexual assault investigations and prosecutions.
The bottom line in all of this is that university students may not at first realize the depth of the trouble they may be in when an allegation like this surfaces. As the parent, you may need to take matters into your own hands in securing an experienced lawyer. It could just be an investment that will rescue his future.