Michigan messenger: MSU Basketball players accused of sexual assault

Submitted by BillyShears on

http://michiganmessenger.com/42253/msu-sexual-assault

 

That is the link. Michigan Messenger is a pretty reputable political site and I don't think they would report this unless they were sure. No names are listed, please refrain from guessing. It goes into some detail so be aware before you click on the link.

Carcajous

September 29th, 2010 at 4:25 PM ^

So why wouldn't the obvious thing be to cut the guy who gave the statement a deal?  Just asking because I don't know how this works.  If his account is consistent with the woman's (and I think it said she confirmed that the one guy stopped), why not offer him a deal or completely remove him as a defendant and go after the guy who, by at least two accounts, kept going even after it was made clear she wanted to stop?

FgoWolve

September 29th, 2010 at 4:38 PM ^

That's the next obvious step. You are now qualified to go to law school. If one teammate testifies against the other, it's a much stronger case. Of course by the date of trial, the one guy might think "I'm not gonna screw my teammate over" and completely change his story. Ah the joys of trial strategy.

CalifExile

September 29th, 2010 at 7:05 PM ^

And the step after that is filing obstruction of justice charges against the guy who lied (either to investigators or on the stand). You also proceed to examine your (now hostile) witness and attempt to persuade the jury that he was telling the truth when first interviewed. Expect the cops to testify that he was completely believable when he admitted his role and told them what his friend did.

I think the prosecutor should proceed without assuming that the second actor is going to lie, thereby committing a felony with all the serious consequences that attach to that.

UMMAN83

September 29th, 2010 at 2:31 PM ^

2 weeks ago.  His frosh son stays at this dorm.  He said the people involved were covering this up including police.  The 2 slimy spartans mom's visited the next day.  I'm sure this won't be in the local papers or on the news.  Pitiful.  Izzo should cut they guys loose like Dantanio did ... sorry didn't.  Yah, htey will play this year.

BlueAggie

September 29th, 2010 at 7:17 PM ^

If the MSUPD was involved in a cover-up, wouldn't this be the worst cover-up ever?  They forwarded some pretty strong statements to the prosecutor and a recommendation to charge.  I'm really not sure how you look at any of the reported facts and find grounds to suspect a cover-up.

What should Izzo do here?  He gets words that his players are involved in a he-said/she-said shindig.  The prosecutor says no crime is provable.  You make the players do some extra running for (I assume) drinking underage and putting themselves in a bad situation (and frankly for being creepy).  I don't see any grounds for dismissal there.

Obviously, this will change if further facts emerge, but I can't see where anyone at State mishandled this based on the facts as presented.

Geaux_Blue

September 29th, 2010 at 2:38 PM ^

all that really needs to be said is it's sad a young woman was left feeling this way after the night's events. this should be more of an eye opener about how far the male gender has to go to prevent women from feeling this way than an MSU/UM football/basketball issue.

also... fwiw... well done MGoBoard for keeping it classy. pales in comparison to the RCMB reaction.

BlueTimesTwo

September 29th, 2010 at 3:44 PM ^

Consent is so passe, huh?

Regardless of what happened initially, at some point even one of the men acknowledged that the interaction was not consensual.  It is not like it is the two of their stories against hers.  Generally people don't fabricate incriminating evidence against themselves.

Why didn't she scream?  Maybe she thought that the guys would just get away with it because of who they are?  Or that she would be blamed for being intoxicated and sending the wrong message?  Not a bad guess, since that seems to be what happened.

On a side note, I became very distracted at the end of the story when I realized that there is a person with the name Murgittroyd.

The Harbaughnger

September 29th, 2010 at 4:14 PM ^

If she tells them 'no' and slaps one of them, and is coaxed, but appears to not want something, and has mentioned that the two of them are bigger than she is, etc., wouldn't the rational human being deduct that there's WAY too much gray area in the situation?



Who finds themselves presented with those indicators and proceeds?!



I have no idea what constitutes the technical legal definition of saying 'no' in this situation, but I  think it's crystal clear about what constitutes the technical definition of 'complete and total dipshit move' on the part of the players.



And no, it's not 'dipshit' because of the consequences that could/would come to them in case anyone thinks that's what I'm implying.

Mitch Cumstein

September 29th, 2010 at 4:52 PM ^

One would think athletes living in the dorm could each get their own women to fully consent if they were looking to have sex with a female.  I mean, if they're into that sort of thing (having sex w/o another dude there) then cool, but the fact that there are two of them and one of her makes it seem that much more likely that she wasn't consenting.You have to have no brain to think that this story getting out would reflect well on you if you're one of those players.

Token_sparty

September 29th, 2010 at 5:06 PM ^

The decision not to prosecute was hasty.  Prosecutor asked girl a couple of tough questions, girl starts crying, prosecutor says 'no way I'm winning this case if she can't even handle these questions.'  It happens, but she should've had the suspects brought in again for questioning and hammered to see if either of them would crack.  They might give up something that could be used against them, and one already gave an incriminating statement- it's worth a shot.

At the same time, at no point in this did she give any indication that the players physically threatened her, and is there any reason she didn't yell/scream to attract attention to the situation?  I've been in Wonders, and sounds carry, believe me.  The police report seems damning, but the prosecutor says he has other information that wasn't in there.  I think this is a case where the decision truly is agonizing, but the prosecutor's office didn't seem too interested in pushing the investigation.  At the very least, they could have put forth a little more effort- and that effort would've helped support a decision either way.  I'm pretty disappointed with them, because it looks like a coverup as it stands now.

bryemye

September 29th, 2010 at 5:54 PM ^

Meh, sounds like something shady went down, everyone was drunk, and things went too far. I wonder how clear this girl was about her unwillingness throughout the ordeal. I don't think it's a totally clear cut case.

Hopefully these young people learned something from this. I know I would be disappointed if this happened with kids from Michigan but from what I saw here I'm not sure it's worth ruining someone's life over.

dahblue

September 29th, 2010 at 6:26 PM ^

Here's why the case isn't closed just yet:

Bouck told the victim she could call or go to the prosecutor’s office if she wished to have the decision to not press charges reviewed, Dunnings said. At this time, she has done neither.

Bouck is the sex crimes prosecutor for the County.  That tidbit contained in the State News

Geaux_Blue

September 29th, 2010 at 9:36 PM ^

was relatively respectful and only a couple ridiculous comments had to be deleted, it's getting to the grey area where everything that has to be said has likely been said. 

locking until new developments, etc.