Former Vanderbilt football player Brandon Banks was convicted by a jury on Friday for rape of a female Vanderbilt student. Following 15 hours of jury deliberations, the verdict of guilty on one count of aggravated rape and one count of aggravated sexual battery was in.
''He’s shocked but understands that this is only the first part of this process, there’s a lot more to do from here on,’' Banks’ lawyer, Mark Scruggs, said after the verdict. ''We have some really good issues to raise.’'
Part of Banks’ defense was built on succumbing to peer pressure, suggesting he feared he may be beaten up by teammates if he did not participate in the scandalous activity. The jury, having reviewed videos and photos from the incident, some of which were shot by Banks, determined that was not a viable defense.
''Making fun of another person is not right, but we know it happens,’' Assistant District Attorney Roger Moore said in closing arguments, according to the Associated Press. ''But it doesn’t give you a legal defense to commit a crime, particularly not an aggravated rape, an aggravated sexual battery. I mean if that’s the case, then we’d have the ‘football team defense.’''
Banks will serve a minimum of 15 years in prison. One count of aggravated rape has a minimum sentence of 15 years.
Other former Vanderbilt players had previously been convicted for their roles in the 2013 rape. Cory Batey was found guilty of aggravated rape and sentenced to 15-25 years in prison in April 2016. Brandon Vandenbeurg was found guilty and sentenced to 17 years in prison.