Things just got very real for a couple of football players.
49ers linebacker Ahmad Brooks has been charged with misdemeanor sexual battery, while former 49ers DT Ray McDonald was indicted for rape by a grand jury over an incident involving the same woman, Santa Clara County prosecutors announced Wednesday. The alleged incidents took place at a party at McDonald’s house in December.
According to the San Jose Mercury News, the alleged victim claims in her lawsuit that she fell by McDonald’s pool and passed out. McDonald believed her to be dead but would not allow calls to 911 because he did not want a dead person found in his home, she alleges. She regained consciousness but later fell many more times and went unconscious again. The victim alleges she was groped by Brooks in a “sexual manner” during one of those unconscious moments. The woman also claims McDonald carried her to his room and had sex with her before she was fully conscious.
Brooks faces up to six months in jail if convicted. McDonald faces up to eight years in prison if convicted. The Mercury News reports that some portion of the assault was captured by McDonald’s security system.
The 49ers cut McDonald after learning his home was searched in December as part of the rape investigation. He was signed by the Chicago Bears, but they released him following two incidents in May with his ex-fiancee.
The 49ers have sent Brooks home and he will not play in the team’s preseason game against the Broncos on Saturday.
“The organization is aware that a misdemeanor charge has been filed against Ahmad Brooks stemming from a December 2014 matter. We take any charge against a member of this organization seriously and are in communication with the NFL. Ahmad is returning home to California and will not participate in Saturday’s game,” the team’s GM said in a statement.
Brooks is expected to surrender to the sheriff’s department. McDonald, who is a free agent, already surrendered and was released on $100,000 bail. He’s set to be arraigned on Sept. 25.
McDonald also faced discipline for a host of other problems.
Police had previously been called to his home in May 2014 after a dispute involving a gun, though no charges were filed. On Aug. 31 McDonald was arrested for suspicion of domestic violence but not charged. A police officer who works with the 49ers was at the home for a birthday party earlier in the evening. Then in May, McDonald was charged with felony false imprisonment and domestic violence. He was also arrested for violating a restraining order a few days later. He will be charged for the restraining order violation, but not for the false imprisonment or domestic violence.
