2008 Woodie Awards
The Daily OrangeSU panel clears three men's basketball players of sexual assault charges
University places three players on probation
By John Clayton and Melanie Hicken
Posted: 8/15/08, 7:26 PM EST Section: News
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
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
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 3
Randa
posted 8/17/08 @ 11:22 PM EST
Stop protecting your "precious" players!!! I don't care how good these players are on the court, that doesn't give them the right to do as they please. (Continued…)
Post a Comment