(12 Feb 2025)
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ASSOCIATED PRESS
San Jose, California – 12 February 2025
1. Dana Stubblefield and attorneys walk into press conference and sit down
2. SOUNDBITE (English) Dana Stubblefield, Former Pro Football Player:
"First of all, I want to say throughout this whole tough ordeal, I always believed the truth would come out. There were long nights when I sat in my cell, an innocent man, wondering if things would ever be right. But I held on to the hope. I want to thank my family and friends who stood by me during these hard times. And I’ll forever be grateful for their support."
3. Various Stubblefield listening to attorneys talking during press conference
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Dana Stubblefield, Former Pro Football Player:
"Being back home with my family after four long years is incredible. The time away from my wife and kids was the hardest part. I love you all so much, and I want to thank you for standing by me. I’m not angry, but I know I’m an innocent man. And while there are steps ahead, things are looking up."
5. Various attorneys speaking during press conference
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Dana Stubblefield, Former Pro Football Player:
"Now, I really want to focus on what truly matters, watching my son play football, coaching him a little bit and having dinner with my wife. You have no idea how I miss spending time with my family and friends. We all take the time for granted. But I won’t. So I want to thank you for being here."
7. Stubblefield and attorneys get up and walk out of press conference
STORYLINE:
A judge has granted the release of former San Francisco 49er Dana Stubblefield after his 2020 rape conviction was vacated by a California appeals court last December.
The Sixth Court of Appeals overturned the conviction of the Stubblefield, who is Black, after determining that prosecutors had made racially discriminatory statements during his trial.
However, Stubblefield remained in prison because a lower court judge said he didn’t have the jurisdiction to grant bail or release.
After the state attorney general’s office and the appeals court weighed in, Santa Clara Superior Court Judge Hector Ramon granted Stubblefield’s release from the state prison where he has served close to four years of a 15-year sentence.
Stubblefield was sentenced to 15 years to life in prison in October 2020 after being convicted of raping a woman in 2015 who prosecutors said he lured to his home with the promise of a babysitting job.
Defense attorneys argued that no rape occurred, and Stubblefield said the woman consented to sex in exchange for money.
Deputy District Attorney Tim McInerny objected to Stubblefield’s release at Friday’s hearing and said his office plans to re-file charges, The Mercury News reported.
The Sixth Court of Appeals found that prosecutors violated the California Racial Justice Act of 2020, a law passed during a summer of protest over the police killing of George Floyd.
The measure bars prosecutors from seeking a criminal conviction or imposing a sentence on the basis of race.
The appeals court said prosecutors used “racially discriminatory language” that required them to overturn Stubblefield’s conviction.
His attorney said prosecutors used “prejudicial racial tropes” and called Stubblefield a “large Black man” in front of the jury during his trial.
The terms of his supervised release include wearing an ankle monitor, not possessing firearms, and being barred from contacting the reported rape victim.
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