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FSU Quarterback Jameis Winston Linked to Sexual Assault Case

Jameis Winston, the freshman quarterback who has led Florida State’s resurgence as a college football powerhouse and is a Heisman Trophy candidate, was named in an ongoing sexual assault complaint filed with the Tallahassee Police Department in December 2012.

Winston’s attorney, Tim Jansen, said police contacted him in February 2013, but no charges were filed and Winston has not been interviewed by police.

“It was closed in February and it was then handed over to the state attorney today,” Jansen said Wednesday. “We’ve been cooperating with them and we’ve supplied them with witness affidavits. We hope this case will be resolved quickly in Mr. Winston’s favor.”

“We learned about the police report for the first time (Wednesday),” William Meggs, state attorney for the Second Judicial Circuit in Tallahasse, said. “I’ve had it read to me. I think the police department would have to tell you why I didn’t learn about it for the first time until today.”

The incident report does not name Winston and describes the offender as being between 5-foot-9-inches and 5-foot-11-inches. Winston’s height is listed by Florida State as 6 foot 4 inches. He has passed for 2,661 yards and 26 touchdowns for the No. 2-ranked, 9-0 Seminoles.

Florida State released a statement Wednesday saying Winston’s status with the team has not changed. The quarterback met with reporters later without addressing the investigation.

“We are aware of a matter that was investigated by the Tallahassee Police Department almost a year ago,” the school said in a statement. “Because the investigation has not been closed by TPD, we cannot comment further at this time. We look forward to a speedy resolution of the issue. There is no change in Jameis Winston’s status.”

The school was responding to multiple reports connecting Winston to an incident on Dec. 7, 2012. In response to those reports, the Tallahassee Police Department issued the following statement: “The Tallahassee Police Department has received several requests from local and national media for a case TPD received on Dec. 7, 2012, of an alleged sexual battery. The case was assigned to the special victims unit. TPD is continuing its investigation and has consulted with the state attorney as to the direction of the case. A copy of the original report is attached to this email, which has been redacted to meet the requirements of Florida Statute 119.”

 

 

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