A botched investigation conducted by the University of New Mexico and investigators is being blamed by a defense attorney for the dropping of rape charges against a New Mexico football player.
New Mexico running back Crusoe Gongbay learned today rape charges will not be pursued by prosecutors according to the Bernalillo County district attorney. While charges may not be pursued at this time, the Associated Press reports charges may be refiled pending an investigation. Another New Mexico player, cornerback SaQwan Edwards, is expected to have charges dropped later this week, but nothing has officially changed just yet.
George Anthony, a defense attorney, says the school and investigators are to blame for botching the investigation and the case from the start. Because of that, Anthony says the charges should have been dismissed.
Gongbay was originally charged with two counts each of second-degree criminal sexual penetration and one count for kidnapping. Gongbay turned himself in to campus police back in April. Edwards was later charged for one count of criminal sexual penetration.
Time will ultimately be the judge for what happens next. Gongbay and Edwards were each indefinitely suspended by the football program in April, per team policy.