Darren Sharper rape charges---Former NFL safety Darren Sharper pleaded not guilty Thursday to charges that he drugged and raped two women he met at a West Hollywood night club, while the emergence of a new accuser in Florida left him under investigation in five states.
Lawyers for Sharper, who played in the NFL from 1997 to 2010 primarily with the Green Bay Packers, said they would prove that any sexual contact Sharper engaged in was welcomed.
"All of these were consensual contact between Mr. Sharper and women who wanted to be in his company," said attorney Leonard Levine.
But a prosecutor pointed out the many investigations against Sharper in places including Tucson, Ariz., Las Vegas and New Orleans, and asked a judge for $10 million bail.
The judge rejected that as excessive, though increased it from $200,000 to $1 million.
"The court considers these crimes quite serious and has to protect the public," Superior Court Judge Renee Korn said.
Sharper, wearing a grey suit and black t-shirt, came to court with his lawyers and a bail bondsman who immediately arranged to post his bail.
The judge ordered Sharper to remain in Los Angeles, stay away from nightclubs and not be alone with any woman he did not know before October, when the first allegations emerged.
The judge set a court date for April 15 to schedule a preliminary hearing. Korn rejected a bid by defence attorney Blair Berk to shut down the release of information in the case.
"We're asking to litigate this in a court of law, not by Twitter feed and entertainment shows," said Berk.
The latest allegations surfaced in a Miami Beach police report released Thursday. It was filed Jan. 19 — more than a year after the alleged attack. No charges have been filed but Detective Vivian Hernandez said the investigation remains open.
The report states that the accuser and two friends went to a club in the fall of 2012 and met Sharper and another man. All five left the club at approximately 4 a.m. and Sharper drove them all to his condo. The victim admitted to being extremely intoxicated.
Read more... Reported by News24by7 8 hours ago.
Lawyers for Sharper, who played in the NFL from 1997 to 2010 primarily with the Green Bay Packers, said they would prove that any sexual contact Sharper engaged in was welcomed.
"All of these were consensual contact between Mr. Sharper and women who wanted to be in his company," said attorney Leonard Levine.
But a prosecutor pointed out the many investigations against Sharper in places including Tucson, Ariz., Las Vegas and New Orleans, and asked a judge for $10 million bail.
The judge rejected that as excessive, though increased it from $200,000 to $1 million.
"The court considers these crimes quite serious and has to protect the public," Superior Court Judge Renee Korn said.
Sharper, wearing a grey suit and black t-shirt, came to court with his lawyers and a bail bondsman who immediately arranged to post his bail.
The judge ordered Sharper to remain in Los Angeles, stay away from nightclubs and not be alone with any woman he did not know before October, when the first allegations emerged.
The judge set a court date for April 15 to schedule a preliminary hearing. Korn rejected a bid by defence attorney Blair Berk to shut down the release of information in the case.
"We're asking to litigate this in a court of law, not by Twitter feed and entertainment shows," said Berk.
The latest allegations surfaced in a Miami Beach police report released Thursday. It was filed Jan. 19 — more than a year after the alleged attack. No charges have been filed but Detective Vivian Hernandez said the investigation remains open.
The report states that the accuser and two friends went to a club in the fall of 2012 and met Sharper and another man. All five left the club at approximately 4 a.m. and Sharper drove them all to his condo. The victim admitted to being extremely intoxicated.
Read more... Reported by News24by7 8 hours ago.