The Jameis Winston sexual assault case will get somewhat of a resolution for the Florida State quarterback on Thursday, as the DA's office and State Attorney Willie Meggs has scheduled a news conference at 2 PM where he will announce whether or not Winston will be charged in the case.
According to most media reports, many feel that Winston will not be charged for the crime and it may not have to do with whether a crime was committed or not, as the investigation appears to have been completely botched from the beginning. The announcement is significant because if he is charged, FSU has a policy that would likely suspend him from the team, but since it also has a line that says players can play if there are "extraordinary circumstances" involved, chances are the Seminoles would find that's the case before the ACC championship game against Duke. Even more so football wise, Heisman votes are due in on Monday and the outcome of this case could end up deciding the vote, as he is considered the front runner after putting up 35 touchdowns this season and leading FSU to an ACC title and possible national title appearance.
Winston's DNA matched the victim in the case, but his lawyer says the sex was consensual and after the police totally mishandled the case, news came out about it a few weeks ago and now it has enveloped the team and Winston. The decision is a big one for the college football season.
Winston, considered the frontrunner for college football's prestigious Heisman Trophy, will learn on Thursday if he will be charged in an alleged sexual assault that has put a cloud over his season.
Winston has led his team to the top of the national polls as a freshman while facing scrutiny over recently surfaced accusations that he assaulted a woman in December 2012, before his college playing career began.
The case appeared to sit dormant for months before being handed over to State Attorney Willie Meggs' office in November.
Meggs will announce the findings of an investigation into the allegations at a news conference at 2 p.m. EST in Tallahassee, his office said.
Winston's attorney, Timothy Jansen, was not immediately available for comment on Thursday. He has said his client had only consensual sex with his accuser.
Miami defense attorney David Weinstein, a former state prosecutor who is not connected to the case, said it was unlikely that charges would be filed against Winston given Meggs' advance notice of a news conference.
The timing of the charging decision is crucial.
The Florida State Seminoles will play for the Atlantic Coast Conference title on Saturday in Charlotte, North Carolina. A felony charge against Winston would require him to be immediately suspended under the school's athletic department policy.
Votes for the Heisman Trophy, the annual award given to the country's best college football player, are due on Monday.
(Reuters)
