Former NFL defensive lineman Dana Stubblefield had his rape conviction overturned on Wednesday after an appeals courtroom decided that prosecutors had made racially discriminatory statements throughout his trial.
The Sixth Court docket of Appeals in Los Angeles discovered that prosecutors violated the California Racial Justice Act of 2020, a measure handed throughout a summer season of racial injustice over the police killing of George Floyd in Minnesota.
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FILE – Former NFL soccer participant Dana Stubblefield leaves a federal courthouse in San Francisco, Jan. 18, 2008. (AP Picture/Jeff Chiu, File)
The regulation barred prosecutors from searching for a prison conviction or imposing a sentence on the idea of race.
Stubblefield, who’s Black, was sentenced to fifteen years to life in jail in October 2020 after being convicted of raping a developmentally disabled lady in 2015 who prosecutors mentioned he lured to his residence with a promise of a babysitting job.
The appeals courtroom mentioned that prosecutors had used “racially discriminatory language” that required it to overturn the previous San Francisco 49ers star’s conviction.
Stubblefield’s lawyer, Kenneth Rosenfeld, mentioned the case had been “contaminated with super error from the minute we began the trial.”
Prosecutors mentioned Stubblefield contacted the girl in April 2015 through a babysitting web site and organized the interview. A police report mentioned that the interview lasted about 20 minutes and the girl mentioned she obtained a textual content from Stubblefield saying he needed to pay her for her time and that she went again to the home.
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Oct. 12, 2003; Cleveland, OH: Oakland Raiders defensive sort out Dana Stubblefield (94) throughout the sport in opposition to the Cleveland Browns at Cleveland Browns Stadium. (Matthew Emmons-USA Right this moment Sports activities)
The police report mentioned that the girl had advised authorities that Stubblefield had raped her at gunpoint, given her $80 and let her go and that DNA proof matched the previous NFL participant.
Protection attorneys have mentioned there was no rape, and their shopper has mentioned the girl had consented to intercourse in change for the money.
Prosecutors mentioned throughout the trial that police had by no means searched Stubblefield’s home and had by no means launched a gun into proof, saying that it was as a result of he was a well-known Black man and it might “open up a storm of controversy,” in accordance with the appeals courtroom’s determination.
The courtroom mentioned that by figuring out that Stubblefield’s race had been a think about regulation enforcement’s determination to forgo looking his home, prosecutors had implied that the home would have been searched and {that a} gun wouldn’t have been discovered had Stubblefield not been Black.
Stubblefield, a Tremendous Bowl champion and a three-time Professional Bowler within the NFL, spent 11 seasons within the league. He performed for the 49ers, Washington Redskins and Oakland Raiders.
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Steve Younger celebrates with Dana Stubblefield (94) in opposition to the San Diego Chargers in Tremendous Bowl XXIX at Joe Robbie Stadium. (Matthew Emmons-USA Right this moment Sports activities)
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He remained in custody till a listening to later this week. Attorneys will ask a decide to approve a movement to launch him. Prosecutors might ask the courtroom to remain their determination and probably ship it to the state Supreme Court docket or refile prices.
The Related Press contributed to this report.
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