One day after the Cleveland County district attorney’s office chose not to pursue rape charges against Oklahoma running back Rodney Anderson, the accuser released a statement to The Oklahoman.
“My choice to stay silent to the media was an intentional decision,” the woman said in the statement. “I held full faith that the Oklahoma criminal justice system would achieve due process with a thorough investigation. Yesterday’s press conference, held by the Cleveland County District Attorney’s office, diminished my faith in our local judicial system. I was speechless when I heard inaccurate statement, a disregard for addressing my inability to give consent, and a projected perceived bias. I was led to believe that the case details provided to the media would be a vague overview of the investigative process. I truly hope their unorthodox, erroneous and egregious release of the detailed information does not affect and/or deter future victims from coming forward.”
Greg Mashburn, Cleveland County’s district attorney, said at the Thursday news conference, “Based on all of this information that we received from the Norman Police Department, we determined that criminal charges are not warranted.”
Susan Caswell, an assistant district attorney and prosecutor, provided details from police, giving an overview of the woman’s encounter with Anderson and information from what happened in the days after, including information from three of the woman’s friends. Although unclear how much of a factor all of this information played, Caswell’s account indicated the woman told friends she initially enjoyed her encounter with Anderson and had hoped to continue a relationship with him.
Although the office chose not to pursue charges against Anderson, Mashburn also said there would not be any charges filed against the woman for false reporting.
“We cannot prove beyond a reasonable doubt that she lied in anything,” Mashburn said. “She may very well believe that this incident went further than she wanted it to go. And that’s not a lie, according to what she told the police. Certainly, one, she never communicated (a lack of consent) to Mr. Anderson. ... Number two, there is certainly evidence on the other side of that, that she was happy with what had gone on, according to what she was telling friends in the week after. Then again, we just can’t prove that she’s lying, that it went further than she wanted it to go that night.”
From the woman’s statement: “I was unable to immediately recollect the events of Nov. 16 due to my high level of intoxication. I was not ‘tipsy’ — I was incapacitated. Following a night of consuming over 10 shots of alcohol, at least eight of which (Anderson) witnessed. I was unable to provide consent after I had ‘blacked-out.’ As stated, I came forward to authorities with the details of my ordeal after I began to remember terrorizing images, thoughts and feelings from night. My motives for coming forward are pure. My body was violated when I was unable to give consent. I had no desire for anything but criminal justice.”
Derek Chance, Anderson’s attorney, also released a statement Thursday.
“We appreciate the comprehensive investigation by the Norman Police Department, and the district attorney’s thorough consideration of the evidence,” Chance said. “The investigation reveals what we have maintained, Mr. Anderson is innocent of these allegations. Mr. Anderson and his family are very much looking forward to a final resolution so that they can put this matter behind them and Mr. Anderson can focus on his obligations as a student-athlete.”
Anderson was still facing a Monday hearing regarding a protective order the woman filed, but the woman’s statement indicates she will no longer pursue the protective order.
“Despite my adamant fight for justice, I have chosen to dismiss my Victim Protective Order upon receiving military orders two days ago to begin training,” the statement reads. “I look forward to starting this next chapter of my life as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Air Force.
“In the future, I ask you to consider all sides of every story before resorting to absolutes. Coming forward was one of the most difficult decisions of my life, but I never wanted to regret not reporting what happened that night. In the humble words of Eleanor Roosevelt, ‘What you don’t do can be a destructive force.’”
(29) comments
She thought she'd get her 15 minutes of fame with all the Me Too stuff going on, and it backfired badly. She obviously didn't think about Police looking at her text messages to see what really happened.
Yes, that and the FACT that I think her lawyer advised her about Military code, as she is about to become a commissioned officer in the USAF.......I would imagine that they advised her that if her accusations could be proven false that she could lose that Commission.........now can you imagine that we have a Toxic person, who has no problem destroying the life of another person and she will soon be an Officer in the Airforce????
Mr. Anderson HAS NOT been cleared as innocent. The DA simply did not feel he had enough information to charge him. This DOES NOT mean the victim was lying either. Any one saying anything to the contrary is lying as that is ALL the DA has proof of. I certainly hope many of you find some empathy for a rape victim before YOUR mother, daughter, wife or sister are raped, as I would hate to be them trying to come to you for help, given the uneducated, misogynistic way many of you have reacted.
DS, neither my mother, nor my daughter, nor my wife nor sister would consume 10 shots of alcohol. One has to be responsible for the consequences of their actions. By her own admission she was blacked out and cannot state with certainty what occurred.
Gordon, I do not care if your mother and daughter have WATER . . .people who rape women often drug them. We as the general public have no knowledge of if drugs were used in this case, but the way her memories came back to her speak of more than just being drunk. But you can choose to stay blinded until you ARE deeply affected by rape. I hope you never are. Sadly, the one in four of us in this country that have been raped do not HAVE that "choice".
She can't say her retrieved memories are real or imagined. We can not go around convicting people, guilty or not, on allegations that are not proven. Had she not confided to her friends that she had a good time, then persued Mr. Anderson she would have had a better case. True or false she handled it to where it looks like sour grapes on her part. I have trouble believing her and its her own fault. You, Dianna, want to blame anyone and everyone on any accusation presented just because someone said so. Our judicial system is somewhat flawed, but it's still better than that.
Actually Mr Cameron, psychologists have made a great deal of progress in identifying fake memories. Its not 100% fool proof but there are ways to pin down certain memories as to its relative reality or falsity.
You have no way to know WHAT I need, since you have never met me, nor do you care about me. You cannot even read a post without spitting vile hatred. And yes, he still could have raped her, there is just no legal proof, so no charges will be brought.
Dianne, did she see a pyschologist about her 'retrieved' memories? I never saw that mentioned, and you ignored the gist of my post anyway.
please tell me EXACTLY what constitutes a LIE in your mind........she bragged to her friends about the encounter, she text him that she wanted to see him again........so which one is the ms Smith........was she lying to her friends about what a great time she had with him.....or was she lying about the assault......or are some people incapable of telling the difference.
This lady had bad timing. If you're going to allege a criminal act against a regular player at Oklahoma, on their way to the play-offs, you need to wait until the
off-season. This same allegation in April obtains a different result.
Does that not bother you at all, Mr Mortenson?? How is THAT right at all?
Dianna - "Mr Mortenson" [sic] was being sarcastic. In other words, Mr. Mortensen was siding with the accuser in a way that mocked the OU football program. How you didn't perceive his comment as such, is beyond me.[huh]
Perhaps because I assume when someone says something, they actually mean what they say. Twitter and text are NOT good forums to try to read someone's mind about if they are sarcastic or not.
Real rape is about the worst crime any man can commit. Based on interviews with the "victim's" friends, the real crime in this case was the false accusation. The next time she is assaulted, she should not tell friends what a good time she had. Her behavior sadly undermines the credibility of actual assault victims.
[thumbup] Very well said, Gene! It's comparable to those who cry "racism" all the time, undermining the credibility of those who are actual victims of racism.
Agreed! Women who do this just make it harder for genuine victims to be taken seriously!
you are right, her toxicity will taint the claims of 100 REAL victims.
She may well have sabotaged her own case, but this does NOT mean she was not raped.
where do people like you come from? I mean your thoughts,..,....the police have her cell phone records, she text her friends BRAGGING about her encounter, she also text mr anderson wanting to see him again......only AFTER HE let her know that he didnt want to see her again did it become as assault........and ONLY after her attorney told her that if she pursued the Protective Order under False pretenses that she could lose her Military Commission that she retracted............really where do people like you get off defended someone like this.
I might add that the next real crime is that she will be commissioned in the USAF........REALLY, a toxic person who has NO problem destroying the life of another human being will become an officer in our military........geeze, I pity her CO,
In the final analysis, how do you prove consent or not, when nobody else is present unless you have evidence of injury?
The accuser should feel fortunate that she was not indicted for "false reporting".
One day after the Cleveland County district attorney’s office chose not to pursue rape charges against Oklahoma running back Rodney Anderson, the accuser released a statement to The Oklahoman.
“My choice to stay silent to the media was an intentional decision,” the woman said in the statement. “I held full faith that the Oklahoma criminal justice system would achieve due process with a thorough investigation. Yesterday’s press conference, held by the Cleveland County District Attorney’s office, diminished my faith in our local judicial system. I was speechless when I heard inaccurate statement, a disregard for addressing my inability to give consent, and a projected perceived bias. I was led to believe that the case details provided to the media would be a vague overview of the investigative process. I truly hope their unorthodox, erroneous and egregious release of the detailed information does not affect and/or deter future victims from coming forward.”
Sounds like the accuser's motives were not totally honest.
Here is a quote from today's Oklahoman on the story--
"One friend told police Thornton had said "this would be a 'great thing' for her political career following the Air Force," The Oklahoman has learned. The friend told police Thornton had said "female-empowered political organizations would love something like this."
http://newsok.com/rodney-andersons-accuser-says-faith-in-oklahoma-judicial-system-diminished/article/5576122
An immediate rhorough investigation was of th e utmost importance in this particular case, due to the fact a sooner goober footbal star was involved, his ability to play being top priority over the dozens of men who's careers have been destroyed by unfounded accusations yet to be investigated
Football frenzy overshadows all in uneducated ,backwoods, hillbilly, goober states,>see alabama>,
Where the vast majority of the hat wearong, flag waving fans never got out of 9th grade , .much less attended a 4 year college
I think some of are missing the biggest picture, here......the woman has a Military Commission and will become an officer in the USAF.........so we have a person who is a known liar, I person who has NO problem with attempting to destroy another person in the most vicious manner known today, accusation of sexual assault........I would hope her commanding officer will recognize she is a toxic human being and should have NO business as an Officer in the Air Force.
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