Jameis Winston Almost Answers Questions In FSU Hearing

((HT: WCTV))

But, instead, he chose to read from a prepared statement and then invoke the Code of Conduct hearing equivalent of the 5th Amendment.

When asked if he would go any further, he volunteered his version of verbal and physical agreement and stated the sex he had with his accuser two years ago was consensual.

Major Harding wrote in his letter to Winston when the proceeding was all over: "I do not find the credibility of one story substantially stronger than that of the other."

So, technically, the ploy worked even if it wasn't all that believable.

Andy Alcock sits down with another lawyer to discuss the case


Winston's accuser could appeal or file a lawsuit and that may be the only way Winston would be compelled to answer any kind of question about the matter.

Mark Schlabach views the issues more in depth hyah...

And you yourself can view the Harding decision hyah...

DEVELOPING: Winston Cleared In FSU Conduct Case

((HT: CBS Sports/Fornelli))

Of course, he was...

Florida State QB Jameis Winston was cleared on sexual assault allegations in his Code of Conduct hearing on campus.

Winston's attorney, David Cornwell, announced the decision on his Twitter account Sunday afternoon:

"In sum, the preponderance of the evidence has not shown that you are responsible for ANY of the charged violations of the Code."

This does not mean that the accuser in the case is locked out of options. She and her legal representation could pursue a civil case- which is highly likely. But had Winston's Code of Conduct case come back with a decision against him, he could have been expelled (among other things you can to to a student in an evidentiary hearing setting).

And, to no one's surprise, the way the university handled the Winston case might have been a little different than the others the school has handled in the past that were similar in charge and scope.

Andy Alcock examines...
((HT: WCTV))

DEVELOPING: Pistorius Not Guilty Of Premeditated Murder

And it looks like, on Friday, when the court returns from recess that Judge Thokozile Masipa will come back with a "culpable homicide" verdict- the US equivalent of manslaughter or a "negligent homicide."

Masipa said there were "just not enough facts" to support the finding of premeditated murder in the shooting of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp. She also disputed the testimony of prosecution witnesses who couldn't differentiate screaming between Pistorius and Steenkamp.

Pistorius faced 25 years to life in prison if he had been convicted of the premeditated murder on Valentine's Day, 2013. He also faces time in prison if the "culpable homicide" verdict comes down. Pistorius could also be acquitted if Masipa believes he made a "tragic error."

Here's Masipa reading the tail end of her decision
((HT: SABC Digital News))

Solo Pleads Not Guilty To Domestic Violence Charge

((HT: KING5-TV))

Hope Solo plead not guilty to two counts of 4th degree assault after her arrest over the weekend. According to court records, Solo came to the home where her half sister lives, because she was "upset about the fact that her husband refused to take her to catch a flight because he was being a jerk."

Her husband is former Seattle Seahawks tight end Jerramy Stevens.

Allegedly, Solo had drunk a lot of wine and started insulting her nephew. The fight escalated to the point that Solo is accused of striking the nephew multiple times and even struck her half-sister.

From Chris Daniels' article:

The nephew admitted to police that he used a wooden broom and "broke it over her head to get her to stop assaulting" his mother, and at one point even waved an old BB gun in Solo's face to get her to leave the home. He said Solo would not leave and kept "circling like a shark."

Daniels was outside the courtroom for his live shot
Solo's next appearance in court is set for August 11th.

Tsarnaev Friend Pleads Not Guilty To Obstruction

((HT: MyFoxBoston))

Prosecutors describe a cab driver form suburban Boston, Khairullozhon Matanov, as a friend of the Tsarnaev brothers- who are suspects in the Boston Marathon bombings in 2013. Matanov is accused of obstructing the bombing investigation.

They also maintained in court this morning that Matanov sent thousands of dollars overseas under six different names and may have helped out the Tsarnaev brothers before the bombings. The indictment against Matanov says that the state believes he “knowingly altered, destroyed, concealed, and covered up records, documents, and tangible objects, specifically, information on his computer, with the intent to impede, obstruct, and influence an investigation.”

Matanov pleaded not guilty in federal court today to charges of making false statements to investigators, and destroying, altering, and falsifying documents. His next appearance in court is July 15th.

Here's discussion during the proceeding from Boston
Boston News, Weather, Sports | FOX 25 | MyFoxBoston

Prosecutors argued that Matanov was a "flight risk" and should be held in jail. Matanov's attorney said that he did not object to being held in jail because his client has nowhere to live and doesn't have his own transportation.

The full indictment can be seen here, thanks to our friends at boston.com

Aaron Hernandez Cousin Pleads Not Guilty In Contempt Case

((HT: MyFoxBoston))

Another layer in the Aaron Hernandez case was shown in a Suffolk County (MA) court this morning...

The cousin who allegedly held the SUV used in the 2012 drive-by shooting at her home was in court this morning answering to a contempt charge. Tanya Singleton pleaded "not guilty" and was ordered confined to her Bristol, Connecticut, home with a GPS tracking device.

The criminal contempt of court charge comes from, prosecutors allege, her not testifying before a grand jury- even though she'd been granted immunity.

Here's the arraignment
Boston News, Weather, Sports | FOX 25 | MyFoxBoston

DEVELOPING: Donnan Found Not Guilty On 41 Counts

((HT: AJC/Tucker))

Jim Donnan was found not guilty on 41 counts of conspiracy, mail fraud, wire fraud, money laundering and securities fraud in his case in and around Greg Crabtree's GLC Holdings. GLC sold out-dated and closed-out merchandise out of a West Virginia warehouse and promised investors a big return. But GLC eventually would pay early investors with later investor dollars.

Thus, the prosecution's thoughts that GLC was a Ponzi scheme and that Donnan was at the heart of it. A lot of high-profile coaches, athletes, and boosters were brought into GLC by Donnan's relationships with them through collegiate athletics like Frank Beamer and Billy Gillispie.

Donnan's attorneys said that Crabtree was the one in charge of the whole thing as the business lost over $20-million overall.

Here's part of the Joyce Oscar story that compared Donnan to a sports-version of Bernie Madoff from 2011
((HT: Southern Free Press))


From Tucker:

Jury foreman Artis Ricks said, “Mr. Donnan was as big a victim in this as some of the investors.”
Ricks said the government did not prove its case against Donnan.
“I just never saw that smoking gun that proved his guilt,” he said
On the way out of the courthouse Donnan told reporters, “I feel vindicated, and I hope I can get my life back.”

Crabtree pled guilty to one count of "conspiracy to commit fraud in the sale of a security."
He could get five years in prison when he is sentenced in Athens on June 24th...

Tsarnaev Pleads Not Guilty In Marathon Bombings

((HT: NECN))

The surviving brother involved in the Boston Marathon bombings plead not guilty seven times in a Boston courtroom...

The proceeding in the courtroom lasted seven minutes- so that averages a plea a minute...

Dzokhar Tsarnaev has been hospitalized since the capture after the April 15th bombing of the Boston Marathon. He faces 30 federal charges, including using a weapon of mass destruction to kill, which killed three and injured more than 260.

He could get the death penalty if prosecutors choose to chase the idea.

Tsarnaev's older brother, Tamerlan, died following a gun battle with police three days after the attack. Dzhokhar Tsarnaev was arrested on April 19th and is also charged in the killing of an MIT police officer and the carjacking of a motorist during his getaway attempt.

Here's the NECN coverage of the developments as they came out of the courtroom...


Martin Richard, Krystle Marie Campbell, and Lingzi Lu were killed by the two bombs. They were made out of pressure cookers, gunpowder, nails and other bits and pieces that could easily turn into shrapnel once the bombs were triggered as they were carried in ordinary backpacks.