UPDATE: Judge rules Terrence Shannon Jr. case moving onto trial

Amanda Brennan
·2 min read
1

UPDATE 12:35 p.m.

Lawyers have confirmed with WCIA Terrence Shannon’s trial date has been tentatively set for June 10th in Kansas.

UPDATE 11:40 a.m.

Terrence Shannon Jr. will be going to trial. The Douglas County, KS courts have found probable cause does exist to move the case to a jury trial. A not guilty plea has been entered and the court is setting trial dates.

In a statement from Mark Sutter, one of Shannon’s lawyers, he said:

“Our legal team is neither shocked nor disappointed by the outcome of this event.  A preliminary hearing is a procedural process that merely speaks to the threshold of evidence and whether a question of fact may exist for a jury.  It has nothing to do with guilt or innocence. Those issues will be decided at trial, and we continue to look forward to our day in court.”

Mark Sutter

Sutter also confirmed Shannon is bound over on both charges. Those include a felony rape charge and a felony aggravated sexual battery charge.

WCIA — Terrence Shannon Jr. is appearing in Douglas County, KS court this morning for his preliminary hearing. Judge Sally Pokorny will determine if there is sufficient probable cause for the case to go to trial.

In December, the former star guard with Illinois Basketball was charged with rape following an incident police said happened in the Jayhawk Cafe in September. Shannon was in Lawrence for the Kansas versus Illinois football game.

Terrence Shannon Jr. suspended, charged with rape in Kansas

Last week, Shannon’s legal team filed a motion to exclude the state’s DNA testing in the criminal case.

In new court documents filed on Tuesday, the Deputy District Attorney in Douglas County, KS amended the complaint and requested a hearing to determine whether or not that expert testimony is admissible in court.

The documents also upgraded one of Shannon’s charges. The felony rape charge remains, but the additional sexual battery charge was elevated to aggravated sexual battery.

Originally, the sexual battery charge was a misdemeanor with a penalty of up to one year in jail or a $2,500 fine. The new aggravated sexual battery charge is a felony. Shannon would face 31-136 months in prison and/or a fine of up to $300,000.

Shannon’s legal team clarified that the judge must find probable cause of the commission of a felony to bind the case over for trial. Either charge will suffice.

When Shannon was charged in December, and was released on $50,000 bail. The University of Illinois suspended him from the basketball team.

Then, Shannon sued the University and took the civil case to the federal courthouse in Springfield. U.S. District Judge Colleen Lawless later granted Shannon an injunction based on due process grounds, which allowed him to return to the basketball court after missing six games.

In April, the U of I dropped their investigation and took no disciplinary action.

This is a developing story.

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