Former NFL star David Meggett convicted of rape, sentenced to 30 years in prison
David Meggett has been sentenced to 30 years in prison following first degree criminal sexual conduct and burglary charges from last year. A Charleston county jury handed out the verdict on Wednesday in circuit judge Kristi Harrington’s court. Megget would
not be eligible for parole for 25 years. He would also be placed on the s*x offender registry. The former NFLer’s attorney has said that they would appeal the verdict.
His attorney argued in front of the jury that the defendant and his accuser had consensual s*x on the night in question but later the two got involved in an argument that led to the accusation of rape. The woman involved in the incident is a former College
of Charleston student who was 21 years old at the time.
Megget didn’t testify and decided not to speak to the jury before he was sentenced. The prosecution could not refer to his previous sexual encounters which got tangled up with the law. The woman, on the other hand, had no such reservations and gave an hour
long emotional testimony. Her lawyer told her afterwards that she had been ‘very brave’ for testifying in front of the court.
The prosecutors and defence argued about the circumstances of the incident in question. The victims maintained that the two had engaged in an alcohol fuelled sexual encounter a few months before the incident took place. The victim owed Megget $200 which
she had not been able to pay until the night of the rape. The victim said that Megget showed up at her home around midnight and asked for the money but the victim couldn’t pay. In response, according to the victim, Megget told her “he was going to take a down
payment now” and proceeded to sexually assault the victim. The victim said that Megget ‘grabbed her throat, pinned her arm behind her back and had forcible intercourse with her.’
The victim also said that when Megget left her apartment he apologized to her through the window. The victim called her mother and drove herself to the hospital. She said that even as she was giving her first statement to the police, Megget called her several
times to apologize.
Megget faces a different set of criminal sexual conduct charges from a previous incident. In September 2008, a teenager accused Megget of forcing her to have s*x with him. Prosecutors have not yet followed up on those charges. Assistant Solicitor Chad Simpson
said that it was still undecided whether to follow up on that case or not. He said that although the two cases were similar, the prosecution said that the one involving the 21 year old victim was stronger and hence they pursued it.
The prosecution added that the jury should be satisfied with the verdict they handed out and that justice had been served. The jury deliberated for hours before announcing the verdict. In closing arguments, the prosecution called upon the jury to hand out
a verdict that would give the woman closure and prevent Megget from harming any other woman.
Megget’s version of events of course is different. His defence claimed that the woman in question offered sexual favours as payment when Megget asked her to return the money. Later that night, the two argued and Megget repeatedly apologized for it.
In 1998, he was arrested for allegedly assaulting an escort worker. The subsequent trial ended with a hung jury. In 2006, he was accused by his former girl friend of sexual assault. Following the accusation, Megget resigned as the Director of Parks and Recreation
in Robersonville N.C. In 2007, he was convicted of misdemeanour sexual battery.
David Megget played both as a rusher and receiver in the NFL from 1989 to 1998. In his career, he rushed 1,700 yards and received 3000. He led the league in his rookie year in punt return yards, earning him a place in the Pro Bowl.
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