re: Jameis Winston Investigated for Sexual Assualt

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The Tallahassee Police Department last year received a complaint of sexual battery against Florida State University star quarterback Jameis Winston. No charges have been filed against Winston, and the investigation remains active. Winston is scheduled to speak to media at 7 p.m. The complaint was filed Dec. 7, 2012, according to TPD reports. The complainant is cooperating with the State Attorney’s Office, said Officer David Northway, spokesman for TPD. “The case is open and active and the victim is working with the State Attorney’s Office,” Northway said. Tallahassee attorney Tim Jansen confirmed he is representing Winston. TPD released an incident report on Wednesday in response to a request from the Tallahassee Democrat for any and all reports related to Winston. The report, which was heavily redacted, does not mention Winston by name. It says the complaint was received at 4:10 a.m. and that the sexual battery occurred earlier in the morning of Dec. 7, 2012, between 1:30 a.m. and 2 a.m. The exact location was not listed, though the report says it happened at an apartment. The incident report says the suspect is unknown. The narrative description from the investigating officer is redacted. The incident report indicated that evidence was collected from the complainant’s body. Photos also were taken of the complainant. The victim told police she had been drinking alcohol the night of the incident. Georgia Cappleman, chief assistant state attorney, said she can’t discuss the case because it’s an open investigation. In a news release sent this evening, Northway said TPD had received several requests from local and national media about the complaint of a sexual battery. “The case was assigned to the Special Victims Unit,” Northway said. “TPD is continuing its investigation and has consulted with the State Attorney as to the direction of the case.” The Democrat on Wednesday morning requested police reports involving Winston. Throughout the day, TPD officials said they were redacting documents in response to the request. At 4:59 p.m., Northway sent an email to a Democrat reporter containing the incident report. Minutes later the police department released the incident report, without reference to Winston, to other media. Winston, a redshirt freshman who has led Florida State to a 9-0 record and No. 2 national ranking, is considered a front-runner for the Heisman Trophy. In his first season of college football, the Alabama native has completed 69.2 percent of his passes (166 of 240) for 2,661 yards, with 26 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He is passing for 295.7 yards per game. Winston ranks No. 2 nationally in passing efficiency, fifth in passing touchdowns, ninth in completion percentage and 12th nationally in passing yards per game. He has been profiled by virtually every national media outlet, including a more than 3,500-word piece this week in ESPN The Magazine.

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