Former San Francisco 49ers player Dana Stubblefield's five-year-old rape conviction has been vacated by a state appellate court. Stubblefield, who maintains his innocence, expressed relief and gratitude for the court's decision. His legal team highlighted evidence of prosecutorial misconduct and racial bias, leading to the overturning of his conviction. The District Attorney's Office has appealed the decision, while Stubblefield's lawyers are confident in their position and hope for a final resolution.
Former San Francisco 49ers star Dana Stubblefield addressed the media on Wednesday following the December 2024 vacating of his five-year-old rape conviction by a state appellate court. Stubblefield, who played 11 seasons in the NFL and won numerous personal awards and a Super Bowl title, maintained his innocence throughout the ordeal. He expressed relief at the court's decision, stating, 'Throughout this tough ordeal, I always believed the truth would come out.
There were long nights when I would sit in my cell, an innocent man, wondering if things would ever be right.'Stubblefield was convicted in 2020 after prosecutors alleged he lured a mentally disabled woman to his home with the promise of a babysitting job and used a gun during the assault. Stubblefield consistently claimed the encounter was consensual and denied using a weapon. His legal defense team argued that the case was riddled with errors and racial bias, pointing to the suppression of evidence from the jury, particularly the fact that Stubblefield's accuser was a sex worker. An appellate court agreed, ruling that prosecutors had violated California's Racial Justice Act by using racially discriminatory language, leading to the vacating of Stubblefield's 15-year sentence. Defense attorneys further revealed the discovery of new evidence challenging the allegation of a firearm being used in the crime. The Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office has appealed the order, expressing disappointment and seeking a decision from the California Supreme Court. Stubblefield's legal team, however, expressed confidence in their position, asserting that a retrial would be barred due to the existing errors. For Stubblefield, the freedom marks a return to normalcy and the opportunity to reconnect with his family. He expressed his desire to focus on his son's football career, coaching him, and enjoying simple pleasures like family dinners, stating, 'You have no idea how I've missed spending time with my family and friends.'Despite his release, Stubblefield remains under an ankle monitoring device pending the appeal and is prohibited from contacting the victim
Law Dana Stubblefield Rape Conviction Vacated NFL Innocence Appeal Racial Bias Prosecutorial Misconduct
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