Ben Roethlisberger Assault

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was accused of sexual assault for the second time in less than a year according to police in Georgia. In the latest case, the assault allegedly happened the morning of March 5, 2010 at a night club in Milledgeville, Georgia. Police say Roethlisberger was at the Capitol City night club with three friends at the time and that they interviewed the quarterback at the club shortly after the incident was alleged to take place. A police spokesperson says the alleged victim, a student at Georgia College and State University, was treated and released from a local hospital.http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/03/05/police-confirm-they-are-investigating-roethlisberger/

On April 12, it was announced that Roethlisberger will not be charged with sexual assault in the incident, due to insufficient evidence. Though Roethlisberger has admitted to having "sexual contact" with the college student who accused him of assault, he will not face criminal charges. Roethlisberger could still face suspension of discplinary measures from the Steelers or the NFL.http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/04/12/ben-roethlisberger-sexual_n_534360.html

Representatives for Roethlisberger deny any wrongdoing on his part, saying the alleged events never happened. "Last night, Ben and his friends met a group of women and everyone mingled together throughout the evening," said Roethlisberger's agent, Ryan Tollner. "We have spoken to law enforcement. Based on the information currently available, an allegation was made against Ben, which appeared to be dismissed after a preliminary investigation last night. Obviously, given the prior accusation against Ben, we are skeptical of motive, but we will continue to cooperate with everyone involved." Police officials in Georgia, however, stress that the investigation is far from over and they will continue with interviews. No arrests have been made in the case.http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/03/05/police-confirm-they-are-investigating-roethlisberger/

The following week, Milledgeville police Chief Woodrow Blue and Tom Davis of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation announced that police had asked Roethlisberger for a DNA sample. Blue said his department expected the Super Bowl winning quarterback to comply with the request, as his legal team had been cooperative up to that point. According to police the alleged victim reported that an assault had occurred to a patrol officer who was outside the club. Local police also say that they are examining security video footage from the club taken that night. The club is a late-hours bar popular with college students in the Georgia town located about 100 miles southeast of Atlanta.http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-20000175-504083.html

Roethlisberger's attorney, Ed Garland insists that no criminal act occurred and that his client is innocent of all charges. "The facts show that there was no criminal activity. No sexual assault occurred," said the attorney in a statement. "Ben is completely innocent of any crime." According to a local paper, the Milledgeville Union-Recorder, a bartender who claims he knows the alleged victim says that she was with the quarterback most of the night, including at two local bars he visited during the evening, the Velvet Elvis and The Brick. The bartender, Scott Eady, said, "It wasn't like he grabbed just some girl. She was with him all night."http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-20000175-504083.html

Following the allegations, the alleged victim hired a lawyer from the small Atlanta firm of Parks, Chesin & Walbert. Those lawyers asked that the alleged victim's name not be released to the media. In a statement, they stated that she has and continues to be available to the authorities to assist them in the criminal investigation, but that while the matter was under investigation, the media respect her privacy and keep her name out of the press. Mike Florio of Profootballtalk.com, an attorney as well as well known NFL blogger believes that the retention of counsel by the accuser is a sign that a civil lawsuit will be coming.http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/03/10/lawyers-for-roethlisbergers-alleged-milledgeville-victim-issue-statement/ According to TMZ.com the 20-year-old woman has dropped out of college and has returned with her parents to their family home outside Atlanta.http://www.tmz.com/2010/03/09/ben-roethlisberger-sexual-assault-accuser-drops-out-georgia-college-goes-home/

Roethlisberger was sued by former hotel employee Andrea McNulty in July of 2009 for alleged sexual assault. McNulty claims Roethlisberger sexually assaulted her at Harrah's hotel in Lake Tahoe in July 2008. No criminal charges were filed and Roethlisberger claims that the act was fully consensual.http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2009/07/20/roethlisberger-gets-sued-in-nevada/

McNulty filed the civil suit in Washoe County, Nevada District Court, naming Roethlisberger and eight other defendants. The suit seeks at least $440,000 in damages from Roethlisberger and accuses Harrah's employees of engaging in a coverup. An affidavit obtained by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on August 8, 2009 states that McNulty allegedly bragged of a consensual affair with Roethlisberger to her co-worker Angela Antonetti.http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09220/989640-66.stm#ixzz0Nq1oEgKL