Lawyer blasts authorities for connecting Karlos Williams to robbery

Yesterday it was reported that Karlos Williams is under investigation by the Tallahassee Police Department for an alleged domestic battery incident. Today, the Florida State running back has been connected to yet another legal allegation.

A TPD spokesperson told ESPN.com that Williams had agreed to speak to authorities regarding an armed robbery allegedly committed June 23 of this year. That same month, Williams decided against going forward with the interview, with his girlfriend, the alleged victim in the current domestic case, telling “the investigator that they had hired an attorney and would not be giving a statement.”

From the website’s article:

On July 30, Tallahassee police arrested Daravius “Gutta” Lawrence, 17 at the time (and now 18), for his alleged role in a robbery of Freightlin Shooter Cox, a 26-year-old FSU senior and retired Marine. Cox told Tallahassee police that he was robbed by three men while purchasing marijuana at his home near FSU’s Doak Campbell Stadium. But that purchase went awry, Cox told police, and he was robbed by two armed men.

Lawrence has been charged with robbery with a firearm, a first-degree felony, and faces an upcoming criminal trial as an adult. The two armed men haven’t yet been arrested, according to sources close to the investigation.

Williams was listed as an “associate” of Lawrence on the initial TPD report.

A deputy assistant state’s attorney stated that Cox believed, apparently misguidedly, that Williams had set up the robbery.

“The only indication he was involved is suspicion on the part of the victim,” Georgia Cappleman told the Palm Beach Post. “The victim in the case believes (Williams) was involved in setting up the robbery.

“There is no evidence of such.”

In a statement, attorney Tim Jansen, who previously represented Jameis Winston during the sexual assault investigation last year, blasted authorities for leaking “false and misleading information” to the press.

“I have been informed by the investigator for the State’s Attorney that Mr. Williams is not a suspect to the armed robbery incident back in June. In fact, I was told this morning that at most Mr. Williams might be a witness. It’s unfortunate that authorities have leaked to the press false and misleading information. Using the term ‘associated’ was an inflammatory device to inflame readers. It’s irresponsible to lead the public to believe the Mr. Williams was somehow involved in the incident.”

Williams has not been charged in connection to that incident.

Jansen added that while his client is under investigation for the domestic allegations, he has “been informed by a prosecutor in the State Attorney’s office that there is no current case for domestic battery against Mr. Williams.”

Williams currently leads the second-ranked Seminoles in rushing, and, at least for now, is expected to play in Thursday night’s game against Louisville. FSU is aware of the investigation into the alleged domestic battery, but did allow in a statement that "[u]ntil we receive more information regarding the alleged incident his status with the team will be under review.”

The alleged victim lived with Williams and is pregnant with the couple’s second child. The attorney for the female told the Tallahassee Democrat he “has requested the Tallahassee Police Department to drop its investigation.”

The lawyer, Nathan Prince, said he does not believe any charges will be filed against Williams due to a lack of witness testimony. Internet rumors led to someone to alert both FSU and the authorities that the female had been battered, Prince added.

He declined to say whether his client felt she was a victim of domestic abuse.

“She doesn’t want to make any comments on the facts of the case,” Prince told the Democrat. “There aren’t any witnesses that have provided testimony.”