Three Syracuse University men's basketball players have been cleared by a SU judicial affairs board of charges they sexually assaulted a female student last fall.
Jonny Flynn, Antonio "Scoop" Jardine, and Rick Jackson - all rising sophomores on the basketball team - and a fourth male SU student were cleared of the charges after their case was presented to a judicial panel Monday, Jackson's lawyer, Michael Vavonese, said Friday.
Although they were cleared of the charges, the three players and the male SU student were all placed on probation until the spring of 2011. Vavonese declined comment about the probation.
"We're gratified by the judicial board's decision that the students were not involved in any nonconsensual activities," Vavonese said.
University spokesman Kevin Morrow said he declined comment because the outcome of judicial proceedings is confidential.
The allegations, which stemmed from two separate incidents last fall, first surfaced Aug. 1 when the three players appeared in front of an Onondaga Country grand jury investigating the alleged sexual assault. A day later, the grand jury did not pursue criminal charges against the players.
The university's own independent judicial process, which pertains to the university's Code of Student Conduct, was put on hold until the outcome of the grand jury investigation.
Flynn, Jardine and Jackson each played a significant role as freshmen on last year's basketball team. Flynn earned Co-Big East freshman of the year honors, while Jardine and Jackson contributed off the bench.
jsclayto@syr.edu and mghicken@syr.edu
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