Dana Stubblefield has been granted his launch from custody greater than 4 years after the previous NFL star was convicted of rape and greater than six weeks after that conviction was reversed by a California appellate court docket due to “racially discriminatory language” utilized by the prosecution in the course of the trial.
California Superior Courtroom Choose Hector Ramon made the ruling Friday in Santa Clara, permitting Stubblefield his freedom, with out having to publish money bail, as the subsequent steps are decided. Stubblefield is required to put on an ankle monitor, cannot possess firearms and isn’t allowed to contact his accuser.
“He has easy circumstances which can be fairly widespread,” Allen Sawyer, who represented Stubblefield, together with fellow legal professional Kenneth Rosenfeld, informed The Instances by cellphone after the listening to. “He has to point out as much as court docket dates if there are any future court docket dates, which we don’t even know if there can be. However as this finalizes and we march towards a retrial or the D.A.’s workplace involves their senses and doesn’t retrial Mr. Stubblefield, … he’s launched on his personal recognizance.”
Santa Clara County assistant district legal professional Terry Harman informed The Instances in a press release following Friday’s listening to:
“A jury unanimously discovered Mr. Stubblefield responsible of raping a girl at gunpoint, he was given an applicable sentence, and we felt that justice had been served. That justice has been interrupted and though we’re upset that the choose launched Mr. Stubblefield from custody whereas we await a choice from the California Supreme Courtroom, we stay centered on the sexual assault that occurred, the sufferer, and the necessity for accountability and group security.”
Stubblefield — a former defensive participant of the 12 months who spent his 11 NFL seasons with the San Francisco 49ers, Washington Redskins and Oakland Raiders — was charged in Could 2016 with raping a girl at gunpoint the earlier 12 months. Throughout his trial, Stubblefield’s protection argued that the intercourse was consensual.
In October 2020, Stubblefield was sentenced to fifteen years to life in jail after a jury discovered him responsible of forcible rape, forcible oral copulation and false imprisonment, and that he had used a firearm in committing the primary two offenses.
The sixth District Courtroom of Enchantment reversed Stubblefield’s conviction late final 12 months based mostly on the California Racial Justice Act of 2020, which prohibits judges, attorneys and aw enforcement officers, amongst others, from exhibiting “bias or animus in the direction of the defendant due to the defendant’s race, ethnicity, or nationwide origin.”
The appellate court docket’s determination was based mostly on language used within the prosecution’s closing argument
After Friday’s listening to, Stubblefield needed to return to Corcoran State Jail to finish some paperwork. However Sawyer stated he expects Stubblefield to be again in Santa Clara by Friday night.
“We anticipate him to be residence tonight,” Sawyer stated. “As my companion stated, he’ll be having a late dinner along with his youngsters tonight.”