The accused
Posted: Friday July 18, 2003 5:22 PM
Following are some of the high-profile athletes who have in the last several years been linked to -- and in most cases exonerated from -- allegations of sexual misconduct.
Kirby Puckett
Oct. 18, 2002: Charged with false imprisonment, fifth-degree criminal sexual conduct and fifth-degree assault
April 10, 2003: Found not guilty on all counts
Jerome Bettis
Aug. 21, 2002: Accused of sexual assault
Oct. 16, 2002: Prosecutors say Bettis will not be charged
Darrell Russell
Feb. 1, 2002: Arrested on suspicion of participating in the gang rape of a woman he dated
Sept. 12, 2002: All charges dropped
Mike Tyson
Sept. 26, 2001 and Dec. 28, 2001: Investigated on two separate sexual assault claims
Feb. 21, 2002: Prosecutors announce Tyson will not be charged
Mark Chmura
May 15, 2000: Charged with third-degree sexual assault; on June 22, 2000, a child enticement charge was added
Feb. 4, 2001: Found not guilty on both charges
Len Dykstra
Oct. 1, 1999: Charged with sexual battery
Nov. 30, 1999: Charges dropped
Curtis Enis
May 30, 1998: Named in a sexual assault complaint filed in Irving, Texas
Aug. 17, 1998: Complaint dropped (he was never arrested or charged)
Juwan Howard and Chris Webber
April 1998: Accused of sexual assault
May 22, 1998: A grand jury decides not to indict either man; Howard countersued, won $100,000 in damages and donated the award to a rape crisis center in Washington
Dave Meggett
Feb. 27, 1998: Charged with sexual assault
June 26, 1998: Charges withdrawn
Cornelius Bennett
Sept. 9, 1997: Pleaded guilty to misdemeanor count of sexual misconduct stemming from a May 18, 1997 incident in the Hyatt Regency Buffalo; served 35 days in jail and later received counseling under the NFL's program
Jake Plummer
May 28, 1997: Charged with felony sexual abuse
June 27, 1997: Struck a plea bargain and received two years probation; also fined $1,020 and ordered to perform 100 hours of community service
Michael Irvin and Erik Williams
Dec. 29, 1996: Accused of aggrevated sexual assault
Jan. 10, 1997: Police say that the accuser had recanted her story and that no charges would be filed
Jose Mesa
Dec. 27, 1996: Charged with rape, gross sexual imposition and felonious assault
April 9, 1997: Acquitted of all charges
|
