Reported Knoxville rape, sexual assault involves Vol football players

[jbcarol]

KNOXVILLE — University of Tennessee football coach Butch Jones said Monday that the reported rape and sexual assault Sunday of two 19-year-old women at a South Knoxville apartment complex involves football players.

"We are aware of the alleged incident that happened over the weekend," Jones said during his weekly news conference.

Neither Jones nor the Knoxville Police Department, which is investigating the allegations, would identify the players. No charges have been filed.

The investigation began about 3 a.m. Sunday when officers responded to White Avenue, according to KPD spokesman Darrell DeBusk.

"One victim indicated she had been raped by two males and the second female indicated she was a victim of a sexual assault," he said.

WBIR Channel 10 @wbir  ·  3 hours ago
BREAKING: Sources tell @wbir UT Senior AJ Johnson is named in sexual assault investigation stemming from Woodlands Apt. Complex incident

Jimmy Hyams @JimmyHyams  ·  2h 2 hours ago
2 UT football players are involved in alleged rape Sunday at 2:57 am. It followed a party at apartment of a UT FB player, UT spokesman said

[jbcarol]

Wes Rucker @wesrucker247  ·  2 hours ago

GoVols247 partner WBIR-TV is reporting #Vols' All-SEC LB A.J. Johnson was named in a sexual assault investigation: http://on.wbir.com/1H9Pmwd

Usually best to avoid jumping to any kind of conclusion with matters this serious. But most people fail to avoid that.


Wes Rucker @wesrucker247  ·  1 hour ago

I love J-Hey. Now I must hate him. This is a terrifically unfortunate turn of events.

[hoggusamoungus]

http://www.wbir.com/story/sports/college/vols/2014/11/17/2-ut-students-accused-of-rape-and-sexual-assualt/19166681/

[jbcarol]

Clay Travis @ClayTravisBGID  ·  6 minutes ago

Tennessee has suspended AJ Johnson and Michael Williams from team events during the sexual assault investigation. So the anti-FSU move.

[jbcarol]

Wes Rucker @wesrucker247  ·  16 hours ago

Baffles me that some don't see the problems with playing at least 1stH against Mizzou w/o Johnson and Randolph. Those two set the defense.


Clay Travis @ClayTravisBGID  ·  19 hours ago

A.J. Johnson may not even be worth half a point to Vegas and offshores. The line hasn't moved at all since his suspension.

[jbcarol]

knoxnews @knoxnews  ·  2 hours ago

#BreakingNews update: Police report accuses A.J. Johnson and Michael Williams of "forcible rape" http://bit.ly/1oZxXAv

A.J. Johnson and Michael Williams have both been accused of forcible rape according to the KPD's incident report. No charges yet.

[jbcarol]

Tennessee leading tackler A.J. Johnson is one of two players on the team accused of raping a female student at the university, according to a report released Tuesday by the Knoxville Police Department.

The 19-year-old woman, who is a student at Tennessee, told police that Johnson and cornerback Michael Willams raped her early Sunday morning at an off-campus apartment and that the attack lasted about 45 minutes. Police are continuing to investigate and no charges have been filed.

Williams also has been accused of sexual assault by a second 19-year-old woman at the same off-campus apartment, but the woman told police she did not want to press charges.

According to the police report, the Tennessee student who said she was raped received medical treatment. The other woman, who attends college in Florida, did not receive treatment and returned home.

On Monday afternoon, Tennessee announced that both Johnson and Williams had been suspended from all team activities.

[jbcarol]

Patrick Brown @patrickbrownTFP  ·  2 hours ago
KPD: With 'numerous people at and near' where alleged rape involving 2 #Vols occurred, investigation 'still ongoing.' http://bit.ly/11v2jzz

Patrick Brown @patrickbrownTFP  ·  2 minutes ago
#Vols DC John Jancek on off-field stuff: 'I don't think anybody's been distracted. ... They're not canceling the game. Let's go play, win.'

[jbcarol]

knoxnews @knoxnews  ·  18h

Officials: UT knew of rape report before apartment searched 

Top University of Tennessee administration officials were notified of the Knoxville Police Department's rape investigation into football players A.J. Johnson and Michael Williams within hours of the accuser's overnight call to E-911 — well before investigators executed a search warrant Sunday night at Johnson's off-campus South Knoxville apartment, where the assault allegedly occurred.

[jbcarol]

Linebacker A.J. Johnson, Tennessee's best defender, the program's second-leading all-time tackler and one of the team's most popular players, will miss what would have been his final home game after he and cornerback Michael Williams were suspended Monday amid a police investigation into an alleged rape of a 19-year-old woman.

His absence will be palpable as each of the seniors is introduced and hugs head coach Butch Jones...

[jbcarol]

knoxnews @knoxnews  ·  3 hours ago

Judge seals documents in rape investigation involving 2 UT football players: http://bit.ly/1uRMb7A

KNOXVILLE — Knox County judicial officials on Monday sealed all documents detailing investigative information gathered in a rape probe to justify requests for search warrants of a University of Tennessee football player's apartment and DNA samples from two Vols.

Knox County Criminal Court Clerk Mike Hammond on Monday released the search warrant return detailing items seized Nov. 16 by police from the South Knoxville apartment of UT player A. J. Johnson.

Johnson, 22, and football player Michael Williams, 21, are listed as suspects in a Nov. 16 rape of a 19-year-old UT student. The woman reported she was raped by both players at Johnson's apartment during a party.

Documents state Knoxville Police Department Investigator Tim Riddle entered the Tree Top Way apartment in the Woodlands apartment complex at 6:06 p.m. and finished the search at 7 p.m. A magistrate issued the warrant at 5:08 p.m. at Riddle's request.

Police left the apartment with an iPhone, a used condom, a condom wrapper, folded toilet paper, a marijuana grinder, bed coverings, a pillow case, a white T-shirt and a laptop computer, according to court records...

[jbcarol]

GoVolsXtra @GoVolsXtra  ·  14 hours ago
Knoxville Police Department finishes UT rape investigation http://shar.es/13jlhq

The Knoxville Police Department announced late Friday night that its investigation into accusations of rape and sexual assault against Tennessee senior linebacker A.J. Johnson and sophomore corner Michael Williams is finished.

"The case file for the UT rape investigation has been turned over to the Knox County (District Attorney General's) Office," according to a news release from Knoxville Police Department spokesperson Darrell DeBusk.

"Our investigation is complete at this time."

The DA's office will decide whether to pursue criminal charges.

A 19-year-old UT student told police that she was raped by Johnson and Williams in the early morning hours of Nov. 16 at the Woodlands apartment complex in South Knoxville. Another 19-year-old woman, who goes to college in another state, also accused Williams of sexual assault. The alleged rape occurred during a post-game party at Johnson's residence.

Neither player has been arrested.

[jbcarol]

knoxnews @knoxnews  ·  21 hours ago
Grand jury recesses without hearing rape charges against Vol players http://ow.ly/G4v2O

NOXVILLE — A Knox County grand jury recessed Wednesday without hearing rape allegations against two University of Tennessee football players.

"A new grand jury will be empaneled in early January," said Sean McDermott, spokesman for District Attorney General Charme Allen.

McDermott said the cases against A.J. Johnson and Michael Williams are still under review by the office.

"Our ethics rules prohibit us from commenting on the case," McDermott said.

Meanwhile, two Knoxville attorneys confirmed they were representing Johnson, 22, and Williams, 21.

A 19-year-old Tennessee student told police that she was raped by Johnson and Williams in the early morning hours of Nov. 16 in Johnson's apartment at the Woodlands apartment complex in South Knoxville.

Another 19-year-old woman, who goes to college in another state, also accused Williams of sexual assault, but police have said she is not pursing charges.

Both players have been suspended indefinitely from all football activities and were held out of the season's last two games.

Although the grand jury term has ended, Knoxville attorney T. Scott Jones said the district attorney could still choose to pursue charges before a new grand jury is sworn in.

"When you present a case directly to a grand jury it is called a presentment and they generally use it for sex-related cases where you don't want to put an alleged victim through the rigors of a preliminary hearing," he said.

"Additionally, an attorney general sometimes decides to go the grand jury route in the interest of transparency and public perception so there is no question the information was presented to an independent grand jury that wasn't affected by it and they are able to make a decision unfettered by outside influences."

Jones said a grand jury is made up of 12 citizens and a foreman. The attorney general is the only participant presenting evidence to the grand jury, he said.

"Right now there is nothing to do but wait," Jones said. "The two individuals are citizens and are entitled to the same rights as you and me. The presumption is they are innocent until proven and neither has even been charged."

The Knoxville Police Department said last Friday that it had completed its investigation and had turned the case over the DA's office...

[jbcarol]

Dustin Dopirak @TennesseeBeat  ·  Jan 9
A.J. Johnson, who was also suspended pending the rape investigation, has graduated and is training in Florida for the NFL draft.

And of course, to reiterate, neither has been charged, and as of the most recent update, the case is still under review by the DA.

Info on Johnson being in Florida comes from his high school coach...

[DeltaBoy]

Bad Boys behaving Badly!    Thank goodness we got CBB!

[jbcarol]

As spring semester classes got under way at the University of Tennessee this week, neither the two suspects nor the alleged victim in a recent rape investigation were enrolled as students.

Michael Williams, one of two football players accused of raping a 19-year-old woman on Nov. 16, is not registered for classes this term, according to Karen Ann Simsen, the university's director of media and internal relations. Williams, who is also accused of sexually assaulting another 19-year-old woman, was in his sophomore year at Tennessee.

The other suspect, star linebacker A.J. Johnson, graduated following the fall semester. Though he and Williams have been suspended from the team since shortly after Knoxville police began their investigation, Johnson posed for photos in cap and gown at Tennessee's student-athlete graduation festivities in December.

The woman named by police as the alleged victim, who was also a Tennessee student-athlete, is also no longer enrolled at the university, according to Simsen. The Tennessean is not identifying the alleged victim because she may be a victim of sexual assault.

Simsen declined to comment on the circumstances surrounding the enrollment statuses of Williams and the alleged victim, citing federal student privacy laws.

[jbcarol]

Clay Travis @ClayTravisBGID  ·  2 hours ago

Compare how Vandy, Florida, & UT handled sexual assault allegations after Winston case. Seismic change: http://www.foxsports.com/college-football/outkick-the-coverage/did-the-jameis-winston-case-teach-college-football-anything-020215 ...

With Florida's Treon Harris, the four Vanderbilt players, and Tennessee's most prominent defensive player, A.J. Johnson, the university response to an alleged sexual assault by one student upon another was totally different.

The moment the allegations went public, the players were suspended from the football team pending the outcome of the investigation. They were, however, allowed to remain students. (Vanderbilt went even further, dismissing the players as students as well. That's probably because of the video evidence in that case).

As far as we know all three alleged victims at Vanderbilt, Tennessee, and Florida remained enrolled on campus. I don't think that's a coincidence either. Students took their cues from how the administration responded.

Treon Harris was cleared and went on to play for Florida that season.

Two of the four Vanderbilt defendants have now been convicted, the other two await trial.

No decision has been made in Johnson's case.

[jbcarol]

GrantRamey @GrantRamey  ·  6 hours ago
KPD investigating former Vol Riyahd Jones as the suspect in an alleged sexual assault incident that occurred Thursday http://www.thedailytimes.com/sports/former-ut-football-player-involved-in-sexual-assault-investigation/article_1f02ac58-b07f-11e4-b6e9-df32a7cdbe35.html ...

KNOXVILLE — Former Tennessee football player Riyahd Jones is currently under investigation by the Knoxville Police Department for an alleged sexual assault incident that occurred late last week.

Jones is named as the lone suspect in the investigation of alleged forcible rape that occurred Thursday, Feb. 5, according to the police report, obtained by The Daily Times through an open records request.

An officer responded to a Knoxville address around 7:20 p.m. Thursday to a report of forcible rape that was said to have occurred earlier in the day at a different location, the police report said.

The officer spoke with the victim and the investigation is ongoing. A weapon was not used, according to the report, and Jones has not been charged.

When contacted by The Daily Times, Tennessee athletic department spokesman Jimmy Stanton declined to comment since Jones is no longer with the program.

Jones was off of Tennessee's roster as of Jan. 6. He did travel with the Vols for the Jan. 2 TaxSlayer Bowl win over Iowa in Jacksonville, Fla., but did not dress for the game. He took part in senior day activities at Neyland Stadium on Nov. 22, before Tennessee's game against Missouri.

Jones tweeted on Feb. 2 that he was "in the process of transferring."

[jbcarol]

he Knox County District Attorney General's Office said late Tuesday afternoon it will present to a grand jury rape allegations involving former Tennessee linebacker A.J. Johnson and cornerback Michael Williams.

"Our office has completed a review of (the Knoxville Police Department's) investigation into the allegations against Alexander Johnson and Michael Williams," Deputy District Attorney General Kyle Hixson told the News Sentinel.

"The case will now be submitted for consideration by the Knox County grand jury."

[jbcarol]

Jimmy Hyams @JimmyHyams  ·  22 hours ago

With DA sending rape accusation case of UT FB players AJ Johnson and Mike Williams to grand jury, alleged victim was in Knoxville today.

Grand jury has 2 options: issue true bill meaning probable cause for prosecution, or no true bill, meaning there is not probably cause.

[jbcarol]

Two Tennessee Volunteers, one current and one former, are facing very serious charges following a legal development late Thursday afternoon.

Following a rape investigation that began in November of last year, the Knoxville News Sentinel is reporting, current UT cornerback Michael Williams (pictured) and former UT linebacker A.J. Johnson have been indicted by a Knox County grand jury.

Williams' attorney, David Eldridge, told the News Sentinel that his client "turned himself in to the Knox County jail and was released on a $40,000 bond."

The specific charge or charges the two will be facing have not been detailed.

According to reports that surfaced in mid-November, a 19-year-old UT student claimed that Johnson and Williams raped her at the former's residence at a Knoxville apartment complex. The unnamed woman claimed that the assault lasted 45 minutes, and occurred during the course of a party being held following UT's win over Kentucky.

Another 19-year-old woman claimed she was sexually assaulted at the same location around the same time by Williams.

The first woman was treated at the UT Medical Center. Contrary to initial reports, the second alleged woman declined treatment and headed back to her home in Florida. She has thus far declined to pursue charges despite her initial claims of being sexually assaulted.  Whether she cooperated with the grand jury is unknown.

[jbcarol]

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000470282/article/extennessee-lb-aj-johnson-indicted-on-two-counts-of-rape

Former Tennessee star linebacker A.J. Johnson, one of the Volunteers' top NFL draft prospects, was indicted by a grand jury on two counts of aggravated rape.

"We're making plans for him (Johnson) to surrender," attorney Tom Dillard told the Knoxville News Sentinel on Thursday.

Johnson was also arrested about a year ago on a charge of purchasing alcohol for an underage person and resisting arrest.

Last week, Johnson was included among 300-plus official invitations to the 2015 NFL Scouting Combine.

The indictment clouds Johnson's future in football. Johnson's hopes of an NFL career are entering a crucial phase beginning with next week's combine. Johnson was not invited to the Senior Bowl in January, so the combine will be the first opportunity for NFL coaches and scouts to interview him and put him through the various physical tests used in evaluations. It is unclear if Johnson would be welcome at Tennessee's pro day event later this spring.

Johnson's draft stock has never been particularly high...

[jbcarol]

Dustin Dopirak @TennesseeBeat  ·  1 hour ago

Confirmed from NFL spokesman Mike Signora. A.J. Johnson's combine invite has been withdrawn.

[jbcarol]

Phil Kaplan @philkaplan  ·  7 minutes ago

Good reporting by @TennesseeBeat Bowles tells News Sentinel he gave alleged rape victim ride home. http://www.knoxnews.com/govolsxtra/football/former-vol-drae-bowles-gave-alleged-rape-victim-ride-home_77815071 ...

Former Tennessee wide receiver Drae Bowles said he was called to testify in the grand jury hearing that led to aggravated rape indictments for former teammates A.J. Johnson and Michael Williams because he provided the alleged victim with a ride home. He said that he and the victim, who is a friend, did not discuss the incident in the car and said that when he dropped her off, he was not even aware that she had been allegedly raped.

"She didn't say anything about the situation," Bowles said. "She just asked for a ride home."

Bowles was one of two former players named in the grand jury presentment along with cornerback D'Andre Payne. Both players transferred at the end of the season with Bowles going to Chattanooga and Payne going to Maryland.

At Friday's press conference introducing new offensive coordinator Mike DeBord, Tennessee coach Butch Jones said that the two players' roles in the case had nothing to do with their decisions to transfer.

"That had absolutely nothing to do with it," Jones said...

[jbcarol]

Former Vols linebacker A.J. Johnson was booked on a charge of aggravated rape. He was released on $40,000 bond.

Former University of Tennessee football player A.J. Johnson was booked in a Knox County jail Tuesday on a charge of aggravated rape. Johnson is at least the fifth player on the Vols' roster last fall to have been accused of a sexual assault.

Police named Johnson, 23, a senior linebacker during the fall season, and former teammate Michael Williams, 21, as suspects in the Nov. 16 alleged rape of a 19-year-old female student-athlete during a postgame party in Johnson's off-campus apartment.

Williams also was named as a suspect in a sexual assault of a second woman on the same night who was visiting Knoxville from another state. Police have said that woman declined to pursue charges.

On Thursday, Williams, a cornerback suspended a day after the assault was reported, was indicted on two charges of aggravated rape in a five-page presentment issued by a Knox County grand jury. A second individual whose name was redacted in the grand jury records also was indicted on two counts of aggravated rape.

Williams also was named as aiding and abetting that unnamed individual on two counts of aggravated rape. The unnamed individual was named as aiding and abetting Williams in two counts of aggravated rape. Williams turned himself in the same day as the grand jury presentment and was released after posting a $40,000 bond.

There have been at least seven sexual assaults reported to the University of Tennessee police this academic year, a number that does not include all off-campus student sexual assaults such as the alleged incident involving Williams and Johnson.

Only two of 19 sexual assaults between 2011 and 2013 that the University of Tennessee reported to federal authorities led to a completed student disciplinary proceeding.

[jbcarol]

Climer: Rape charges are another hit to Vols

Of all the things that have been said and written about A.J. Johnson since he arrived at Tennessee in 2011, one stands out.

In November, Vols linebackers coach Tommy Thigpen said this: "He's a great player, great kid, great ambassador."

Thigpen's statement came after Johnson was identified as a suspect in an alleged rape. It was bad timing and a bad choice of words. Sometimes "no comment" is the proper response.

At the moment, I doubt the UT football program or the university considers Johnson such a great ambassador.

On Tuesday, Johnson was charged with aggravated rape. He surrendered to Knox County authorities and was released on $40,000 bond.

There is no rush to judgment here. The saying goes that a district attorney can get a ham sandwich indicted. And that's true in many cases. But when we're talking about an allegation of aggravated rape, there is no such thing as a frivolous indictment.

This is a very, very serious charge and should be taken that way by everyone — Johnson, the alleged victim, the university, the NFL, everyone.

Over the past couple of years, Johnson has been identified as a leader of the UT football program because of his performance and commitment on the field. Now his character is called into question. It leaves a mark.

Johnson's arrest came five days after Michael Williams, another one-time Vols football player, surrendered on charges of aggravated rape. Johnson and Williams were named as suspects in an alleged rape of a 19-year-old female student in Johnson's apartment during a post-game party in the early morning hours of Nov. 16.

To its credit, UT did the right thing by suspending both Johnson and Williams from the team the day after the incident. Neither played another down for the Vols last season.

[jbcarol]

Stacey Barchenger @sbarchenger  · 

"They made me out to be a liar, just for coming forward," UT student says after sex assault claim http://tnne.ws/1DtbDn6  via @anitawadhwani

The young woman who reported in September that she was raped by a football player has since moved back home with her mother and is now applying for waitress jobs.

In that woman's case, three unusual things happened during the course of a three-month investigation.

The university's Office of Student Conduct initially investigated the case, as campus policy calls for. It is the university body that routinely investigates student misconduct, including sexual assault.

But five weeks after opening its investigation, UT's Vice Chancellor for Student Life, Vincent Carilli, notified the woman that a separate university office, the Office of Equity and Diversity would take over the investigation. That office typically investigates sexual assault and other allegations against university employees and nonstudents. Carilli provided no explanation why.

While the case was being transferred, the university withdrew charges against the football player, leaving him free to return to the team while football season was underway.

Carilli provided no further explanation to either the woman or her father, who demanded to know whether the university's handling of his daughter's case took a different turn because it involved a member of the football team.

"The University seems far more interested in protecting the reputation of the football team than a 19-year-old assault victim," the father wrote Carilli in October.

The father asked repeatedly whether football officials had been notified of the allegations. "I have been refused an answer as to whether Coach Jones is aware of the allegations."

Carilli did not respond to the father's question about whether Tennessee football coach Butch Jones had been notified about the allegations against one of his players.

Frustrated, the father wrote a separate email: The football player's "continued presence on the football team as a public representative of the University adds insult to injury. Knowing what (the football player) has done, I cannot tolerate seeing him run through the 'T' every home game; he has not earned that satisfaction."

In December, the young woman and her mother attended an on-campus meeting with university officials, who informed them about the results of their investigation — that no misconduct occurred.

The nine-page memo outlining the campus investigation included summaries of interviews with two witnesses who, the report said, "observed no signs of intoxication" in the woman during the party. One witness told campus officials the woman was flirting with the player that night before the alleged assault. The report also includes an interview with the football player, who said when he got to his room and asked the woman if she wanted sex, her response was "Go for it." The woman denied she ever made that statement when the two were alone in his room.

Efforts to reach the football player were unsuccessful...

[jbcarol]

Jimmy Hyams @JimmyHyams  ·  9 hours ago
Trial date for AJ Johnson and Michael Williams set for August 24. Both plead not guilty

[jbcarol]

University of Tennessee defensive back Michael Williams and former star linebacker A.J. Johnson were arraigned in Knox County court Monday. Each player entered a plea of not guilty.

Both players face two counts of aggravated rape following a grand jury indictment last month.

Attorneys for the men waived a formal reading of the charges by Knox County Judge Bob McGee, who presided and set a trial date of Aug. 24.

[jbcarol]

Phil Kaplan @philkaplan  ·  11h 11 hours ago
Anatomy of a UT sexual assault report. In depth reporting from @mjslaby and @TennesseeBeat of News Sentinel.  http://www.knoxnews.com/news/local-news/no-winnersonly-losers-anatomy-of-a-ut-sexual-assault

A report of an alleged sexual assault by a female student set in motion the investigation process the University of Tennessee and colleges around the country are constantly revising to meet changing federal standards. The complications in this case of two freshmen changed the way UT approaches sexual assault allegations and brought damage to both students and the university itself.

The News Sentinel obtained nearly 300 pages of documents from the two investigations and interviewed UT officials and the female student's father to report this article. Normally, the university would reject releasing such information, arguing it is protected by federal student privacy laws or FERPA. Because neither student was identified in the media reports, the university agreed to release certain information after redacting names and identifying details.


'No winners...only losers': Anatomy of a UT sexual assault report...

[jbcarol]

Josh Ward ‏@Josh_Ward 13h13 hours ago

A.J. Johnson's trial will begin in Sept RT @knoxnews: Johnson and Williams to have separate trials http://bit.ly/1IdoKaG

Former University of Tennessee football players A.J. Johnson and Michael Williams will be tried separately in their rape case, Johnson's attorney said Tuesday.

Stephen Ross Johnson, a Knoxville attorney representing A.J. Johnson, had requested the separate trials...

Johnson, formerly the Vols' star linebacker, will now go to trial on Sept. 29, court records show. Williams, a defensive back, has the Aug. 24 trial date originally scheduled for the pair...

[jbcarol]

Ben Frederickson ‏@Ben_Fred 14h14 hours ago

Informative read by @jamiescoop on defense strategy being used in former Tennessee linebacker A.J. Johnson's case: http://www.knoxnews.com/news/watchful-eye/former-ut-linebacker-aj-johnsons-defense-in-rape-case-goes-on-offense_32427155 ...

The defense strategy for a former star linebacker for the University of Tennessee accused of raping a female athlete is to mount a strong offense, newly filed motions show.

Before former UT standout A.J. Johnson finds himself in a front of a jury in the November 2014 alleged rape, defense attorney Stephen Ross Johnson has filed a stack of motions designed to limit and shape just what jurors will see and hear and how many charges will remain on the indictment against him.

Johnson and former teammate Michael Williams are accused of raping a female athlete, then 19, during a large party at Johnson's residence at the Woodlands apartment complex in South Knoxville in the hours after Tennessee's win over Kentucky.

The pair are being tried separately. Johnson's trial is set for Sept. 29 in Knox County Criminal Court.

Each of the men are charged with four counts of aggravated rape — two charges each for two distinct sex acts allegedly committed by each man and two charges of aiding and abetting the other. Those charges are the first to face legal attack by attorney Stephen Johnson.

He contends in a motion the state is padding the indictment with four charges for a single alleged criminal act in a bid to tackle a legally thorny issue — what if the woman said yes initially? Four separate allegations give the prosecution four chances to try to prove consent either was not given or was withdrawn.

Defense attorney Johnson also wants to bar both the state and the judge from calling the woman a victim and calling the alleged crime rape. Instead, he is asking Judge Bob McGee to order the state to refer to her as "a complaining witness, an accuser or by her name" and to use the state law code number in place of aggravated rape in his instructions to the jury.

"This would ensure that counsel for both sides are polite, proper and content neutral and that they are perceived to be so by the jury," he wrote. "A jury instruction that refers to the individual as a victim may create a presumption that a criminal act, in fact, happened."

[jbcarol]

Business about to pick up in Johnson trial

Volmania, group sex, interracial relationships and campus sexual assaults — it's just too heady a mix to trust potential jurors to be honest in the upcoming rape trial of a former University of Tennessee star linebacker.

That's the argument attorney Stephen Ross Johnson is making in a bid to convince Knox County Criminal Court Judge Bob McGee to grant a rare request for a written juror questionnaire in the run-up to the rape trial of former UT standout A.J. Johnson.

Johnson and former teammate Michael Williams are accused of forcing a female UT athlete, then 19, to have sex with both men inside a bedroom at Johnson's South Knoxville apartment in November during a football game victory celebration.

Campus sexual assault is a hot-button issue in the news right now, and, attorney Johnson argues, this is the generation of random sexual "hookups," including group sex.

[jbcarol]

KNOXVILLE — A motions hearing will be held here Thursday as rape cases involving two former University of Tennessee football players move toward trial.

Knox County Judge Bob McGee could issue rulings on any of the many motions that have been filed by Thursday's deadline, which McGee set at arraignment in March. A.J. Johnson, a linebacker, and Michael Williams, a defensive back, entered not guilty pleas at that time. They are accused of raping a then-19-year-old female, formerly a Tennessee student-athlete, at a party at Johnson's off-campus apartment in November 2014.

"As demonstrated by the grant of a new trial in a recent case involving allegations of rape against Vanderbilt University football players, sometimes oral voir dire alone isn't sufficient or effective in conducting jury selection," Stephen Ross Johnson argued, referencing the verbal question-and-answer format that was utilized in impaneling a jury in that case's original trial.

In that case, an issue of juror bias led Judge Monte Watkins to declare a mistrial.

Instead of an oral jury selection, A.J. Johnson's attorney Stephen Ross Johnson has requested a written questionnaire that he wrote...

[jbcarol]

https://twitter.com/Josh_Ward/status/632286357054951426

[jbcarol]

https://twitter.com/sbarchenger/status/635803897848819713

https://twitter.com/michaelpix/status/635810253645479936

[jbcarol]

https://twitter.com/sbarchenger/status/635837364510818305

[jbcarol]

https://twitter.com/NicoleAuerbach/status/637281522991689728

[jbcarol]

Adam Sparks ‏@AdamSparks 3h3 hours ago

JUST IN: UT's Cheek, Vandy's Williams on new SEC panel to review student-athlete conduct. http://tnne.ws/1O3GsFB 





Case closed

[jbcarol]

Stacey Barchenger ‏@sbarchenger 3h3 hours ago

Rape trial of UT Vols football player Michael Williams again delayed, new date TBD: http://tnne.ws/1iSdoUE  via @tennessean #UTrapetrial

[jbcarol]

Stacey Barchenger ‏@sbarchenger 3h3 hours ago

Update on rape case at UT Knoxville. Expect we'll have new trial dates set after this development.

Matt Slovin ‏@MattSlovin 4h4 hours ago

In court for motions in Johnson/Williams rape case. Prosecution said social media subpoenas of alleged victim would have chilling effect.

Court rules social media subpoenas in Johnson/Williams case are "oppressive." Quashes subpoenas of state witnesses.

Judge reverses ruling, denies ex-Tennessee football players access to social media in rape case

KNOXVILLE — A judge Tuesday reversed a prior ruling that allowed two former University of Tennessee football players accused of rape direct access to the social media accounts of the alleged victim and three witnesses.

Knox County Criminal Court Judge Bob McGee ruled that the requests on behalf of former Vols A.J. Johnson and Michael Williams had proven too "oppressive" for the four women at issue to comply.

He is allowing the defense to continue to seek the information from the social media providers. Those companies, including Facebook, are balking and have retained attorneys.

KNSLegalEye @KNSLegalEye

Got to give it to McGee: he is showing none of his usual tentativeness in handling objections, bringing his game face to this case


KNSLegalEye @KNSLegalEye

Defense: alleged victim and witness ditched their cellphones - proof they're hiding something

[jbcarol]

Stacey Barchenger ‏@sbarchenger 21h21 hours ago

Subpoenas revoked in University of Tennessee rape case http://tnne.ws/1NoXf5a  via @tennessean @mattslovin

Knox County Judge Bob McGee on Tuesday quashed attempts by defense attorneys to gather social media posts from witnesses in the rape case of two former Tennessee football players.

The judge acknowledged that the court was entering into uncharted territory on how to handle the acquisition of social media communications.

"We are without a great deal of guidance and authority," McGee said.

A.J. Johnson and Michael Williams are charged with two counts of aggravated rape each after a November 2014 party at Johnson's apartment that followed the Vols' win over Kentucky. Both players were on the roster at the time.

"This is new territory," McGee said at the hearing. "We're faced with the reality of the computer age and the generation of incredible amounts of communication."

Earlier, deputy district attorney general Kyle Hixson argued that continuing to compel the alleged victim and three other potential witnesses to produce content from their social media accounts could have an impact on future rape victims' willingness to pursue prosecution.

"The danger here, judge, is a chilling effect," Hixson said...

[DeltaBoy]

This case is starting to stink.  I wonder how much booze was involved and how in control any of the parties were.

[jbcarol]

Stacey Barchenger ‏@sbarchenger 11h11 hours ago

New trial dates in June and July set for ex-Vols Williams, Johnson: http://tnne.ws/1j6trOi  #UtRapeTrial

KNOXVILLE — New trial dates have been set for former Tennessee linebacker A.J. Johnson and cornerback Michael Williams, who are facing aggravated rape charges.

Williams' trial has been moved to June 27, the date that Johnson had been scheduled to go on trial. Johnson's trial was moved to July 18.

Each has been charged with two counts of aggravated rape. Knoxville police say the incident occurred Nov. 16.

Their trial dates have been moved multiple times while defense lawyers attempt to obtain social media communications related to the case.

Earlier this month, Knox County Criminal Court Judge Bob McGee granted the state's motion to quash subpoenas issued to witnesses, including the woman who says the men raped her. McGee said defense lawyers still can try obtaining those communications from service providers.

[DeltaBoy]

This is NOT how the system is supposed to work. It been over a year and they are still dancing.

[jbcarol]

Creg Stephenson ‏@CregStephenson 52m52 minutes ago

Tennessee sued under Title IX regarding sexual assault cases involving football players | http://ow.ly/Y8MsE

Six women have sued the University of Tennessee under Title IX following a series of sexual assault cases involving football players and other athletes, according to a report Tuesday by The Tennessean.

According to the report, the suit — filed in federal court on Tuesday — accuses the school of creating "a student culture that enables sexual assaults by student-athletes, especially football players, and then uses an unusual, legalistic adjudication process that is biased against victims who step forward."

Five former Volunteer athletes were also named in the suit: former basketball player Yemi Makanjuola and former football players A.J. Johnson, Michael Williams and Riyahd Jones (a sixth athlete, also former football player, is also mentioned, but referred to only as "John Doe"). All six have since left the university, while Johnson and Williams are awaiting trial on sexual assault.

The suit also alleges that Tennessee chancellor Jimmy Cheek, athletic director Dave Hart and football coach Butch Jones showed "deliberate indifference" when confronted with accusations involving the athletes and failed to take corrective measures. The school released a statement arguing that it "acted lawfully and in good faith" and expects to win in court.

[jbcarol]

Matt Jones ‏@KySportsRadio 11m11 minutes ago

Whoa RT @Tennessean: JUST IN: Lawsuit: Tennessee #Vols player put 'hit' on teammate for helping rape victim http://tnne.ws/1nYBRtE

University of Tennessee football players confronted and assaulted wide receiver Drae Bowles as retribution for helping a woman who said she was raped by then-Volunteer players A.J. Johnson and Mike Williams, according to a federal lawsuit filed in Nashville on Tuesday.

Bowles took the woman to a hospital on the night of the alleged rape in November 2014 and supported her decision to report the incident to authorities, according to the lawsuit.

While the woman, a student-athlete, was meeting with executive senior associate athletics director Jon Gilbert, senior associate athletics director Mike Ward and her coach, she received a message from her roommate "who was witnessing at that moment several football players jumping" Bowles, the lawsuit says. The woman informed the athletics officials of the incident and was told they would "look into it," according to the suit. The lawsuit says "athletic coaches were present during that altercation."

Days later, the woman learned that Bowles was assaulted a second time at the team facility by the same players, the lawsuit says. She reported the second assault to university administrators as well.

[jbcarol]

Wes Rucker ‏@wesrucker247 12h12 hours ago

I've been told in no uncertain terms that #Vols athletic department plans to dig in and fight against today's allegations, FWIW.

[Jackrabbit Hog]

Wes Rucker ‏@wesrucker247 12h12 hours ago

I've been told in no uncertain terms that #Vols athletic department plans to dig in and fight against today's allegations, FWIW.

If that's true, this is going to get very ugly and UT may ultimately regret the decision, even if they come out of it okay.  A very public trial isn't what they need.

[jbcarol]

Dustin Dopirak ‏@TennesseeBeat 2h2 hours ago

Full story with the update here: http://www.knoxnews.com/sports/vols/football/lawsuit-ut-football-players-assaulted-drae-bowles-for-helping-rape-victim-2b605b1c-9e5f-56e5-e053-01-368262521.html ...

A federal lawsuit alleges that Tennessee football players twice assaulted wide receiver Drae Bowles for assisting the woman who accused linebacker A.J. Johnson and defensive back Michael Williams of rape in November 2014.

Neither the Knoxville Police Department nor the University of Tennessee Police Department has a specific report of the incident, however.

The lawsuit, filed in Nashville on Tuesday by six unnamed UT female students including five alleged rape victims, charges that the University of Tennessee violated Title IX and other federal laws by "deliberately indifferent" actions before and after the alleged rapes. Four of the rapes in question, including the case involving Johnson and Williams, were allegedly committed by Tennessee athletes.

The lawsuit also charges that UT created a "hostile sexual environment" through deliberate indifference, and that UT officials, including chancellor Jimmy Cheek, athletic director Dave Hart and UT football coach Butch Jones, failed to address that environment.

Williams and Johnson, who were immediately suspended when they were accused, were both eventually charged with rape and are facing separate trials in June and July, respectively. Bowles, who transferred to Chattanooga after the 2014 season, has received a subpoena to testify.