IOWA CITY, Iowa — A former University of Iowa football player who faced decades in prison over a sexual assault case got his future back Thursday when a jury convicted him on the least serious charge possible: misdemeanor assault.
Cedric Everson’s attorney acknowledged that the former defensive back had sex with a female athlete in a vacant dorm room in October 2007 after one of his teammates, Abe Satterfield, sexually assaulted her, but claimed it was consensual, and the woman said she had passed out and didn’t even know it happened until weeks later.
For Everson, the verdict means the 21-year-old faces no more than 30 days in jail when he is sentenced Feb. 25. He won’t have to register as a sex offender. He’ll be able to return to Atlanta to his new wife and 1-year-old daughter. Everson said he hopes to resume his college football career as soon as next fall at a school neither he nor his attorney identified.
“Nobody is a winner in this case, but at least somebody gets to go home,” defense attorney Leon Spies said.
Franklin sues ESPN
AUSTIN, Texas — Former ESPN announcer Ron Franklin has sued the network over his firing for reportedly berating a female colleague.
The wrongful termination lawsuit claims ESPN had no grounds for dismissing him. The suit says Franklin exchanged “contentious words” with a colleague who repeatedly interrupted a private conversation before they worked at the Chick-fil-A Bowl.
Sideline reporter Jeannine Edwards said Franklin called her “sweet baby” in a condescending tone. When she objected, he used a derogatory term.
Footnotes.
Former Michigan quarterback Tate Forcier, a sophomore, said he is leaving the program.
• Former Tulsa coach Steve Kragthorpe was named offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at LSU.
The Associated Press
