Oklahoma RB Rodney Anderson won't face charges after rape accusation
The Cleveland County, Oklahoma, District Attorney’s office announced Thursday that Oklahoma running back Rodney Anderson would not face criminal charges regarding an accusation of rape against him.
A woman got a protective order against Anderson on Dec. 4, claiming he had raped her in November. Thursday, county officials laid out the case why Anderson would not be charged.
“Definitely charges not warranted under these circumstances,” Cleveland County DA Greg Mashburn said when asked by a reporter if Anderson was being cleared.
The accuser reported the Nov. 15 accusation to Norman police on Dec. 4. Per prosecutor Susan Caswell, the woman told police she and Anderson went back to her place, where they kissed and then she went to the bathroom to vomit. She came back and they kissed again. She fell asleep and told authorities that Anderson was gone when she woke up.
The DA’s office said the woman told police she began remembering the details of that night approximately two weeks after the fact and that Anderson was “aggressive” and he had penetrated her with his fingers.
In her written summary as a followup to her first report, the woman said they participated in consensual sexual activity while shirtless on her couch before making their way to the bedroom. And that she had a vague memory of what happened there. Both Anderson and the accuser had been drinking that night.
“She told the police upon inquiring that she did not want the sexual activity that occurred, at least in the bedroom, but she never communicated to Mr. Anderson in any way to let him know she did not want to do this,” Cleveland County prosecutor Susan Caswell said.
The woman also told police in her second statement that she and Anderson exchanged phone numbers when he left her place.
Police reviewed text messages between the woman and Anderson, including messages characterized as “friendly” and messages from the woman that “suggested” they get together again were not answered by Anderson.
Caswell said the two had not been together since the night of Nov. 16 and the woman reported the allegations to police after seeing Anderson in passing at a bar. The prosecutor also said a friend of the accuser told police the accuser called her from the bathroom the evening Anderson was at her house. The woman told her friend she was excited Anderson was at her place and she looked forward to brushing her teeth and kissing him again.
Anderson’s attorneys said last week the running back had passed a polygraph test denying the accusation.
The sophomore is Oklahoma’s leading rusher with 960 yards and 11 touchdowns. He also 283 receiving yards and five touchdowns through the air. The No. 2 Sooners face No. 3 Georgia in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1.
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Nick Bromberg is the editor of Dr. Saturday and From the Marbles on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at nickbromberg@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!
