Friday, September 13, 2002

Last Two Counts Against Iverson Dropped PHILADELPHIA  -- Associated Press reports the last two charges will be dropped against Allen Iverson, who lauded the district attorney for resisting the "media frenzy that accompanied these false accusations." The NBA star had been accused of bursting into an apartment with a gun and threatening two men while looking for his wife. Twelve other counts, including four felonies, were dismissed by a judge July 29 after Iverson's two accusers gave conflicting testimony, including whether the Philadelphia 76ers' guard was carrying a gun. 11:25:12 AM

Bettis May Have Been Set Up in Sexual Assault Case PITTSBURGH – Associated Press reports police are investigating whether a woman who accused Steelers running back Jerome Bettis of sexual assault lied as part of a blackmail scheme. Police are re-interviewing the woman and her uncle, the main witness in the case. Two people told police that the uncle talked about getting a woman to accuse Bettis of sexual assault to try to get an out-of-court settlement, the officials said on condition of anonymity. 11:23:23 AM

Gang Rape Charges Against Russell Dropped ALAMEDA, Calif. – Associated Press reports prosecutors dropped all 25 felony charges in their rape case against Oakland Raiders defensive tackle Darrell Russell on Thursday, saying they couldn't prove their case beyond a reasonable doubt. Russell, 26, had been charged with drugging a 28-year-old woman with the "date-rape drug'' GHB at a San Francisco night club early this year, and then recording her alleged rape by two of his friends. The decision follows rulings this year by prosecutors and juries to either not pursue or acquit athletes at three different colleges where women filed gang rape charges. In Jackson, Miss., prosecutors declined to press gang rape allegations against five members of the basketball team while an Athens, Ga., jury's acquittal of a Georgia football player in a supposed gang rape led prosecutors to drop charges against the other two basketball players accused in the incident. At the University of Colorado, what started out as a gang rape investigation against members of the football team eventually led prosecutors to only file buying alcohol for minors charges. The Russell decision leaves only four former Notre Dame players facing gang rape charges. 11:21:39 AM

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