Ga. DA to announce decision Monday on whether to charge Roethlisberger over sex assault claims

Ga. DA to announce decision on Roethlisberger case

MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. — A district attorney in Georgia plans to announce Monday whether he will file charges in a case of sexual assault accusations against Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.

District Attorney Fred Bright said in a statement Friday he has reviewed all the investigation reports and will hold a news conference to announce his decision.

Milledgeville police Chief Woodrow Blue said Wednesday his department and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation had wrapped up their investigation into a 20-year-old college student’s claim that the two-time Super Bowl champion sexually assaulted her early March 5 at a club in Milledgeville.

Roethlisberger’s lawyer, Ed Garland, has disputed the assault claim and hired his own team to investigate.

“I want everyone to realize that Ben Roethlisberger has never been accused of any criminal conduct by any law enforcement agency in his life,” Garland told The Associated Press on Friday. “We believe the correct decision by the district attorney in this matter should be that no criminal charges will be made against him.”

An attorney for the woman did not immediately return calls seeking comment Friday. A Steelers spokesman did not have a comment.

It was the second time in a year that Roethlisberger has been accused of sexual misconduct. He also faces a lawsuit filed last July by a woman who says he raped her in 2008 at a Lake Tahoe hotel and casino, an allegation he denies. Roethlisberger has not been criminally charged in either case and has claimed counter-damages in the lawsuit.

Roethlisberger did not report to Pittsburgh’s offseason workouts last month. The next critical day for players is April 19, when on-field practice starts. Most of the team is expected to be on hand then.