Florida WR Chris Rainey arrested, charged with aggravated stalking stemming from text message

Florida’s Rainey arrested, charged with stalking

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Florida receiver Chris Rainey was arrested Tuesday and charged with aggravated stalking, a third-degree felony, for allegedly sending a former girlfriend a threatening text message.

The school did not announce any disciplinary action against the 5-foot-9 junior, but offensive coordinator Steve Addazio said, “Chris Rainey is not a part of our team right now. That’s really all I have to say on that.”

Rainey was released from the Alachua County Jail on his own recognizance and ordered to have no contact with the alleged victim.

The alleged victim also was in court with her mother and sister. The woman told Judge Denise R. Ferrero she does not fear Rainey but was concerned about retribution from the public following all the media attention.

She also asked for the charges to be dropped.

“I did not want to have him arrested,” she said. “When the police came, I signed papers to not press any charges. I don’t fear for my safety. … People all over the country have been calling my cell phone. I’m not afraid of him. I’m more afraid of all the repercussions.”

The Gainesville Sun first reported Rainey’s arrest.

According to Gainesville Police, Rainey sent the woman he dated on and off the last three years a text message that read, “Time to die, (expletive)” after leaving her home.

Officer Jesse Bostick said the woman fell asleep and missed a call from Rainey. Rainey then went to her home, they talked and she told him to leave. According to Bostick, the woman got the text a short time later and called police.

Rainey’s attorney, Huntley Johnson, told The Associated Press that his client was “overcharged by the arresting agency.”

“My early sense is this will be something less than a third-degree felony,” Johnson said. “I think this will turn out to be what I think this is, which is something minor. I don’t think that the (state) statute was intended for this kind of thing.”

Johnson called Rainey a “terrific kid who works his rear end off” in the classroom and on the football field, and added that he hopes Rainey will be reinstated this season.

“I think this is something that will pass,” Johnson said. “He never intended for this to happen nor would he ever hurt this woman. He cares deeply about this woman. He didn’t handle it like he should have. He knows that. Hopefully this will end up being a bump in the road.”

Florida likely will be without Rainey at Tennessee on Saturday. State Attorney Bill Cervone told Florida Today that no decisions on the case will be made this week.

Rainey, from nearby Lakeland, has six receptions and a touchdown this season. He’s also the team’s primary punt returner. He missed the second half of Saturday’s game against South Florida with a concussion.

Rainey also missed practice Monday.

Coach Urban Meyer is expected to address Rainey’s situation during the Southeastern Conference teleconference Wednesday. Meyer has suspended other players, including defensive end Carlos Dunlap last season and receiver Frankie Hammond Jr. this summer, immediately following arrests.

Rainey is the 27th player arrested during Meyer’s six seasons in Gainesville.

Rainey’s only real trouble was minor. He drew the coach’s ire last month when he said the Gators might be better off without some of the players who turned pro after last season.

“I guess we got rid of the prima donnas and the (selfish) cats,” Rainey said. “There are no rock stars this year, definitely not. You can say cliques or (selfish) cats, stuff like that, worried about themselves, worried about trying to get to the NFL.”

Rainey also raised eyebrows as a freshman when he talked about the attractive coeds on Florida’s campus, specifying the type of woman he prefers to date.

Meyer vowed last month to not let Rainey speak to the media again.

“It’s our fault for letting him speak once a year,” Meyer said then. “I can name some other things he said to the media, too, that is absolutely inappropriate. So take (what he says) for nothing. Absolutely wrong. Inappropriate, wrong, non-thought out, which he does quite often.

“And I love Chris Rainey. When I ask him a question, I give him a whole day to think about it and write it down 100 times.”