Jameis Winston UPDATE: No Timetable Set For State Attorney's Decision; Could the Heisman Frontrunner be Ruled Ineligible?
ByIt has been more than a week since William Meggs' office received the sexual battery case involving Jameis Winston and it could be another week before he makes a decision on how to proceed, ESPN reported.
Winston is currently leading the Florida State University (FSU) Seminoles to an undefeated season and possibly a BCS National Championship appearance. But the Heisman Trophy front-runner could see it all derailed pending when Meggs makes his decision and what that decision is.
Meggs said he could make a decision on Winston's case either early next week or later, but did not specify when. He told the Associated Press there were "four or five" matters to attend to.
He had previously stated neither the alleged victim nor Winston had spoken with his office, but ESPN recently reported the young woman has come forward to speak with Meggs. It is not clear what he has left to do, but they apparently may take some time or be finished quickly.
His decision is likely to be between charging Winston with a felony or misdemeanor for some type of sexual misconduct crime, classifying him as a witness or not directly involved in the assault, or even possibly determining he had nothing to do with the matter. The last option appears highly unlikely at this point.
In the early hours of Dec. 7 2012, a female FSU student told the campus police she had been raped. The police responded that night, but since the incident was not on campus, FSU police turned it over to the Tallahassee Police Department (TPD). For no clear reason, the case became inactive, but still open, for 11 months.
Last week, after some reporters began asking questions about the sexual battery case (not knowing Winston was involved), the story broke and the Seminoles quarterback was implicated as the suspect.
As the story developed, details arose, like how the alleged victim named Winston as her attacker a month after her initial report. A Tallahassee city official sent out an email that claimed the alleged victim had stopped working with police, causing the case to become inactive. Tim Jansen, Winston's attorney, was alerted about the case in February, but thought it was closed. The family of the alleged victim did not speak publicly until earlier this week. Jansen confirmed Winston and the alleged victim had consensual sex that night, but that they never denied that event took place.
Meggs, the state attorney for the Second Judicial Circuit, will be weighing these and other pieces of evidence over the weekend and into next week when deciding how to proceed with the case.
Speaking with ESPN's Tony Kornheiser on "the Tony Kornheiser Show," attorney Abbe Lowell (no affiliation to the case) said Winston could be ruled ineligible by FSU pending Meggs' decision. According to FSU's team rules, a player will be suspended if charged with a felony, but may not be if charged with a misdemeanor.
(CLICK HERE and skip to the 37th minute for Lowell's full comments)
Meggs' timing is still unclear, but it seems like his decision could either come before the end of the football season or after its final game.