Latest news with #DanaStubblefield
Yahoo
13-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Freed ex-49er Dana Stubblefield says he 'always believed the truth would come out'
The Brief Former 49er Dana Stubblefield and his legal team held a press conference Wednesday to address the media after Stubblefield was freed from prison. His rape conviction was vacated in December. Now that he is a free man, Stubblefield said he plans to focus on his family. SAN JOSE, Calif. - Former San Francisco 49er Dana Stubblefield and his lawyers addressed the media on Wednesday after his five-year-old rape conviction was vacated in December 2024 by a state appellate court. What they're saying "Throughout this tough ordeal, I always believed the truth would come out," said Stubblefield, glancing down at notes of his prepared statement. "There were long nights when I would sit in my cell, an innocent man, wondering if things would ever be right." Stubblefield who played 11 NFL seasons and won numerous personal awards and a Super Bowl title, was convicted in 2020 of rape. Prosecutors alleged he lured a mentally disabled woman to his home with the promise of a babysitting job and then used a gun in the commission of the crime. Stubblefield has consistently maintained the sexual encounter was consensual and that there was no weapon. "During this process and during the trial, so much evidence was hidden from the jury. The trial judge made sure the jury did not know that Dana's accuser was a sex worker," said Kenneth Rosenfeld, a member of Stubblefield's legal defense team. What we know Defense lawyers said the case was filled with errors and racial bias. An appellate court ruled prosecutors violated California's Racial Justice Act by using racially discriminatory language, forcing the panel to overturn Stubblefield's 15-year sentence, of which he had served about four years. "We have uncovered new evidence that's compelling as it relates to the false allegation that there was a gun in this case at all," said Allen Sawyer, another attorney on Stubblefield's defense team. The Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office has appealed the order to vacate. Assistant District Attorney Terry Harman said in a statement that read in part "We felt that justice had been served. That justice has been interrupted... We are disappointed that the judge released Mr. Stubblefield from custody while we await a decision from the California Supreme Court." Prosecutors have asked the state's highest court to decide the issue, but defense lawyers said they're confident the law is on their side. "We don't think that they're allowed to retry this case based on the errors that have already occurred," said Sawyer. What's next As for Stubblefield, after nearly four long years, it's a warm homecoming and a chance to finally be with family. "Now I want to focus on what truly matters, which is watching my son play football, coaching him a little bit, and having dinner with my wife. You have no idea how I've missed spending time with my family and friends," he said. Although freed, Stubblefield still has to wear an ankle monitoring device as the vacate order is under appeal, and he's been ordered not to contact the victim in this case. Jesse Gary is a reporter based in the station's South Bay bureau. Follow him on the Instagram platform, @jessegontv and on Facebook, @JesseKTVU. The Source Dana Stubblefield and his legal team held a press conference in San Jose on Wednesday where they addressed the media.
Fox News
12-02-2025
- Fox News
Super Bowl champion Dana Stubblefield freed from prison after rape conviction gets overturned
Super Bowl champion and former San Francisco 49ers star Dana Stubblefield was released from prison Tuesday after his 2020 rape conviction was vacated by a California appeals court. Stubblefield, who is Black, had his conviction overturned after the Sixth Court of Appeals determined prosecutors had made racially discriminatory statements during his trial. The Sixth Court of Appeals found that the prosecutor violated California's Racial Justice Act of 2020, which was passed during the summer of racial injustice after the police killing George Floyd. Prosecutors said during the trial that police had never searched Stubblefield's house and had never introduced a gun into evidence, saying it was because he was a famous Black man, and it would "open up a storm of controversy," according to the appeals court's decision. The court said that by determining that Stubblefield's race had been a factor in law enforcement's decision to forgo searching his house, prosecutors had implied that the house would have been searched and that a gun would not have been found had Stubblefield not been Black. Stubblefield has remained in prison since December because a lower court judge said he didn't have the jurisdiction to grant bail or release. Stubblefield's release was granted after the state attorney general's office and appeals office weighed in. Santa Clara Superior Court Judge Hector Ramon granted Stubblefield's release Friday. Stubblefield had served nearly four years of his 15-year sentence. "Finally, an innocent man is no longer sitting in a cage away from his family," Stubblefield's defense attorney, Kenneth Rosenfeld, said in a statement. Stubblefield was sentenced to 15 years to life in prison in October 2020, when he was convicted of raping a developmentally disabled woman in 2015 who prosecutors said he lured to his home with a promise of a babysitting job. Defense attorneys argued no rape occurred and that Stubblefield said the woman consented to sex in exchange for money. Stubblefield played in the NFL for 11 years and was named defensive rookie of the year with the 49ers in 1993. The three-time Pro Bowler was named defensive player of the year in 1997 after recording 15 sacks. After five seasons with the 49ers, Stubblefield played for the Washington Redskins for three seasons before rejoining the 49ers for two more seasons. After his second stint with the 49ers, Stubblefield played one season for the Oakland Raiders before retiring after the 2003 season. Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
Yahoo
12-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Dana Stubblefield is finally released from prison, but prosecutors intend to refile rape charges
More than six weeks after an appeals court overturned his rape conviction, former NFL defensive tackle Dana Stubblefield has been freed from prison. Via the Associated Press, a judge granted Stubblefield's release on Friday. "Finally, an innocent man is no longer sitting in a cage away from his family," attorney Kenneth Rosenfeld said in a statement. Stubblefield and his lawyers will hold a press conference on Wednesday. The district attorney's office intends to refile charges. "A jury unanimously found Mr. Stubblefield guilty of raping a woman at gunpoint, he was given an appropriate sentence, and we felt that justice had been served," Assistant District Attorney Terry Harman said in a statement. "That justice has been interrupted and although we are disappointed that the judge released Mr. Stubblefield from custody while we await a decision from the California Supreme Court, we remain focused on the sexual assault that occurred, the victim, and the need for accountability and community safety." The conviction was reversed because prosecutors used "racially discriminatory language" at trial, in violation of California law. His release had been delayed by the time needed to deliver the proper paperwork from the appeals court to the trial court. While free from custody, Stubblefield is required to wear an ankle monitor, not possess firearms, and not contact the alleged victim. Stubblefield spent 11 years in the NFL, playing for the 49ers, Washington, and the Raiders. He won Super Bowl XXIX with the 49ers and was named both the 1997 defensive player of the year and the 1993 defensive rookie of the year. He'll potentially face a new trial on the charges, along with the possibility of another conviction.
NBC Sports
12-02-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Dana Stubblefield is finally released from prison, but prosecutors intend to refile rape charges
More than six weeks after an appeals court overturned his rape conviction, former NFL defensive tackle Dana Stubblefield has been freed from prison. Via the Associated Press, a judge granted Stubblefield's release on Friday. 'Finally, an innocent man is no longer sitting in a cage away from his family,' attorney Kenneth Rosenfeld said in a statement. Stubblefield and his lawyers will hold a press conference on Wednesday. The district attorney's office intends to refile charges. 'A jury unanimously found Mr. Stubblefield guilty of raping a woman at gunpoint, he was given an appropriate sentence, and we felt that justice had been served,' Assistant District Attorney Terry Harman said in a statement. 'That justice has been interrupted and although we are disappointed that the judge released Mr. Stubblefield from custody while we await a decision from the California Supreme Court, we remain focused on the sexual assault that occurred, the victim, and the need for accountability and community safety.' The conviction was reversed because prosecutors used 'racially discriminatory language' at trial, in violation of California law. His release had been delayed by the time needed to deliver the proper paperwork from the appeals court to the trial court. While free from custody, Stubblefield is required to wear an ankle monitor, not possess firearms, and not contact the alleged victim. Stubblefield spent 11 years in the NFL, playing for the 49ers, Washington, and the Raiders. He won Super Bowl XXIX with the 49ers and was named both the 1997 defensive player of the year and the 1993 defensive rookie of the year. He'll potentially face a new trial on the charges, along with the possibility of another conviction.
Yahoo
08-02-2025
- Yahoo
Judge grants release of ex-49ers Dana Stubblefield
The Brief A judge granted the release of former 49er Dana Stubblefield from prison. His release comes after an appeals court overturned his rape conviction in December. The appeals court overturned the conviction after determining that prosecutors made racially discriminatory statements during his trial. SAN JOSE, Calif. - Former 49ers star Dana Stubblefield will be freed from prison after an appeals court granted his petition for release. What they're saying "Finally, an innocent man is no longer sitting in a cage away from his family," said his attorney, Kenneth Rosenfeld. "The Court of Appeals issued a forceful, unanimous ruling proving bias in Dana's case. And their ruling was only the tip of the iceberg – the entire trial was infected with error and bias from the start." Stubblefield's 2020 rape conviction was overturned by the Sixth District Court of Appeal in December after determining prosecutors made racially discriminatory statements during his trial. He remained in custody until a hearing Friday morning, where his attorney asked a judge to approve a motion for his release, which was granted. He is expected to be released by Saturday. Prosecutors could have asked the court to stay their decision so they could appeal to the state Supreme Court or refile the charges. The backstory The retired football player was sentenced to 15 years to life for the rape of a woman in 2015, whom prosecutors said he lured to his home with the promise of a babysitting job. The woman reported to police that Stubblefield raped her at gunpoint, then gave her $80 and let her go. DNA evidence matched that of Stubblefield, according to a report from the Morgan Hill Police Department. The appeals court found that prosecutors violated the California Racial Justice Act of 2020, a law passed during a summer of protest over the police killing of George Floyd. The measure bars prosecutors from seeking a criminal conviction or imposing a sentence on the basis of race. Prior to the law, defendants who wanted to challenge their convictions on the basis of racial bias had to prove there was "purposeful discrimination," a difficult legal standard to meet. The appeals court said prosecutors used "racially discriminatory language" that required them to overturn Stubblefield's conviction. During the trial, prosecutors said Morgan Hill police never searched Stubblefield's house and never introduced a gun into evidence, saying it was because he was a famous Black man and it would "open up a storm of controversy," according to the appellate decision. By saying Stubblefield's race was a factor in law enforcement's decision not to search his house, prosecutors implied the house would've been searched and a gun found had Stubblefield not been Black, the appeals court said. Defense attorneys said there was no rape, and Stubblefield said the woman consented to sex in exchange for money. The Source The Law Offices of Allen Sawyer.
