Former NFL defensive lineman Dana Stubblefield His rape conviction was overturned on Wednesday after an appeals court determined that prosecutors made racially discriminatory statements during his trial.
The Los Angeles Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals found that the plaintiffs violated California's Racial Justice Act of 2020, a measure passed during a summer of racial injustice over police killings of George Floyd In Minnesota.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
FILE – Former NFL football player Dana Stubblefield leaves federal court in San Francisco, Jan. 18, 2008. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu, File)
The law prohibits prosecutors from seeking a criminal conviction or imposing a sentence based on race.
Stubblefield, who is Black, was sentenced to 15 years to life in prison in October 2020 after being convicted of raping a developmentally disabled woman in 2015 who prosecutors said he lured to his home with the promise of a babysitting job.
The appeals court said prosecutors used “racially discriminatory language” that required it to overturn the earlier ruling. San Francisco 49ers Star conviction.
Stubblefield's attorney, Kenneth Rosenfeld, said the case “was terribly wrong from the moment we began the trial.”
Stubblefield contacted the woman in April 2015 through a babysitting website and arranged the interview, prosecutors said. A police report said the interview lasted about 20 minutes and the woman said she received a text message from Stubblefield saying he wanted to pay her for her time and that she had gone home.
Troll Bills Jets with POP-TARTS video after winning number. 2 seeds in the AFC qualifiers
October 12, 2003; CLEVELAND, OHIO: Oakland Raiders defensive tackle Dana Stubblefield (94) during the game against the Cleveland Browns at Cleveland Browns Stadium. (Matthew Emmons – USA Today Sports)
The woman told authorities that Stubblefield raped her at gunpoint, gave her $80 and let her go, and that DNA evidence matched the former NFL player, the police report said.
Defense lawyers said there was no rape, and their client said the woman agreed to have sex in exchange for money.
Prosecutors said during the trial that police never searched Stubblefield's home and never introduced a gun into evidence, saying that was because he was a famous black man and that would “open up a firestorm of controversy,” according to the appeals court decision. .
The court said that by determining that Stubblefield's race was a factor in law enforcement's decision to forego searching his home, prosecutors implied that the home would have been searched and that a gun would not have been found if Stubblefield had not been black.
Stubblefield, a Super Bowl champion and three-time Pro Bowler in the NFL, spent 11 seasons in the league. He played for the 49ers, Washington Redskins, and Oakland Raiders.
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Steve Young celebrates with Dana Stubblefield (94) against the San Diego Chargers in Super Bowl XXIX at Joe Robbie Stadium. (Matthew Emmons – USA Today Sports)
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
He remained in custody until a hearing later this week. The lawyers will ask the judge to approve his release request. Prosecutors can ask the court to stay their decision and possibly send it to the state Supreme Court or refile charges.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Follow Fox News Digital Sports coverage on Xand subscribe to Fox News Sports Huddle Newsletter.
