Ex-NFL star charged with raping developmentally disabled woman

SAN FRANCISCO, USA – Super Bowl-winning former San Francisco 49ers player Dana Stubblefield angrily hit back at sex crime allegations on Tuesday, a day after being charged with raping a developmentally disabled woman.

Stubblefield said at a press conference in San Jose, northern California, that sex he had with a 32-year-old woman at his home last year was consensual.

“I am here to state without any reservation that I am completely innocent of all these allegations,” Stubblefield said.

“I have worked my whole career to be a part of the Bay Area community. And I have worked in several communities and charities with the church. This is an issue that is very close to me. One of my primary charities is Special Olympics – something that is true and dear to my heart.

“This is why these allegations hurt me so badly.”

Stubblefield’s lawyer, Ken Rosenfeld, said the former NFL defensive player of the year had passed a lie detector test.

He also said Stubblefield’s accuser had demanded money in return for her silence.

“This is a money grab,” Rosenfeld said.

The Santa Clara County District Attorney’s office on Monday said Stubblefield assaulted his victim after meeting her at his home during an interview for a babysitting job.

“This was a crime of violence against a vulnerable victim,” prosecutor Tim McInerny said. “She was looking for a job and she was unconscionably assaulted.”

The victim contacted the police immediately after the incident on April 9 last year.

Stubblefield faces 5 felony counts related to the assault and faces a lengthy prison sentence if convicted, the statement said.

Stubblefield played for around a decade in the NFL after being chosen in the first round of the draft by San Francisco in 1993.

The powerfully built defensive tackle was a member of the 49ers team that won the Super Bowl in 1995 against the San Diego Chargers and was chosen for 3 Pro Bowl teams.

His career also included stints with the Washington Redskins and Oakland Raiders.

Stubblefield was later drawn into the investigation into the Bay Area Laboratory Co-operative (BALCO) drug scandal, and later co-operated with the probe.

He received probation in 2009 for initially lying to investigators over his involvement in the scandal. – Rappler.com