Because of the ongoing investigation, Jameis Winston has yet to publicly address the complaint of an alleged sexual assault filed against him last December.
He has, though, addressed it privately with one former Florida State great.
Charlie Ward texts Winston on a regular basis. In the second half of the Seminoles’ blowout of Syracuse Saturday, the ex-FSU quarterback great was seen joking with the burgeoning current FSU quarterback great on the sidelines. Ward told the Orlando Sentinel that, yes, he has spoken to Winston about the scandal since it surfaced the middle of last week.
Like most, Winston was taken aback that such an issued became public nearly a year after it was first investigated by the Tallahassee Police Department. Winston has come to terms with the controversy, Ward said.
“It came out of the blue,” Ward said. “The timing is very odd but for him, he said he’s at peace with it, so I’m at peace with it.”
Last Wednesday, multiple media outlets reported that a complaint alleging sexual assault was filed with the TPD in the early morning hours of Dec. 7. The alleged victim claimed that she was sexually assaulted through the use of “physical force.” The complaint was received against Winston, the Tallahassee Democrat reported.
Winston’s attorney said he was told in February that the case was closed, but the complaint was forwarded to state’s attorney Willie Meggs of the 2nd Judicial Circuit the same day the information surfaced publicly. Meggs has assigned two investigators to the case, vowing to “get to the bottom of it and do the right thing.” The hope is that a decision on whether charges will or won’t be filed against Winston can be made in the next week or two.
Meggs told The Associated Press Saturday that an interview with the alleged victim, who has moved out of state since the complaint was filed, is in the process of being arranged. Thus far, and as is his right, Winston has declined to speak to investigators.
While the focus has understandably been on Winston, Meggs reminded people that there is an unidentified (alleged) victim involved as well.
“There is a victim out there right now whose world has tumbled down around her,’” Meggs told The AP. “We have a female victim here, too, and my job is to make sure that this victim or any victim of a crime has their rights protected. ... Everything is now focused on Winston and what’s going to happen to him.”
We will once again note that, if Winston were to be charged with what would be a felony, he would be immediately suspended from the football team per university policy. That suspension would last until the case was resolved.