Oklahoma RB Rodney Anderson will not face charges after rape accusation, DA says
Oklahoma running back Rodney Anderson will not face criminal charges after being accused of sexual assault by a former Oklahoma student, Cleveland County District Attorney Greg Mashburn announced Thursday afternoon.
Police had been investigating Anderson after a woman filed for a protective order against him on Dec. 4. In her petition, the woman said Anderson assaulted her at her apartment on Nov. 16 after they met at a bar. She said she feared for her safety.
However, according to prosecutor Susan Caswell, friends of the woman told police that she was excited about spending time with Anderson on the night of the alleged incident. Mashburn said charges were not warranted in this case.
Prosecutor Susan Caswell: Accuser's friend said she received a phone call from accuser during night in question, said she was excited to be spending time with Anderson. #Sooners
— Eric Bailey (@EricBaileyTW) December 14, 2017
Prosecutor: Police interviewed two more friends. Accounts said accuser bragged about relationship with Anderson, said they had sexual intercourse
— Cody Stavenhagen (@CodyStavenhagen) December 14, 2017
Greg Mashburn: “Sexual assault victims need to be comfortable coming forward and telling their story” … Says charges were not warranted in this circumstance. Would not use the word “cleared” when asked, only said charges were not warranted
— Cody Stavenhagen (@CodyStavenhagen) December 14, 2017
Mashburn: "There are certainly cases where we simply can't prove something. I think in this case it was important for us to tell the whole story so people understand the facts that were presented to us."
— Joey Helmer (@joeyhelmer247) December 14, 2017
Anderson’s attorney released a statement praising the decision after the DA’s press conference.
Statement from Rodney Anderson’s attorney: pic.twitter.com/PV34LVMnzv
— Brooke Pryor (@bepryor) December 14, 2017
Oklahoma has not yet announced whether Anderson will play in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1 against Georgia. He could still face a Title IX investigation, which would require a lower burden of proof than what is necessary to bring criminal charges. On Thursday, before Mashburn’s press conference, Lincoln Riley said Anderson was “still fully on the team.”
Previous reports indicated that charges were unlikely in the case, due in part to text messages from the accuser to Anderson after the night of the alleged incident. Anderson’s attorney said the woman had “attempted to pursue a relationship” with Anderson after the night in question.
The woman told authorities that she began remember images of from that night weeks later, which is why she filed for the protective order. Mashburn said no charges will be filed against the accuser and that there was no “malicious intent” on her part.
Mashburn: There’s no malicious intent by the accuser
— Brooke Pryor (@bepryor) December 14, 2017
Mashburn: “We cannot prove beyond a reasonable doubt she lied about anything … She may very well believe this incident went further than it wanted to go, and that’s not a lie” Notes there’s also not evidence she communicated “no” to Anderson
— Cody Stavenhagen (@CodyStavenhagen) December 14, 2017
When the allegations first became public, Anderson created a Twitter account to deny the accusations. He also passed a polygraph test given by former FBI examiner Bill Brown, who interviewed Anderson about the allegations.
Anderson leads Oklahoma with 960 rushing yards and 11 rushing touchdowns this season.
