Two former Ohio State football players were acquitted Thursday of rape and kidnapping charges that arose out of a sexual encounter with a woman at a home the two players shared.
Amir Riep and Jahsen Wint’s lawyers argued in court that the woman had consensual sex with the two men but later regretted it. They also accused the victim’s father of pressuring them and the authorities to file criminal charges.
Franklin County Assistant District Attorney Daniel Meyer said the woman went to the home expecting to leave with Riep, but the two men brutally raped her.
The jury deliberated less than four hours between Wednesday and Thursday morning before finding Riep and Wint not guilty on two counts of rape and one count of kidnapping. Any man, if convicted, could have faced more than 30 years in prison and registration as a sex offender.
The two players were banned from the team in February 2020 following their arrest.
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The woman told police that she and Riep had consensual sex before Wint entered the room and the two forced her to have sex.
After a few minutes, they stop and Riep records the woman’s agreement that the sex was consensual.
Riep and Lloyd McFarquhar, another former Ohio State soccer player, testified Wednesday that players have been asked to obtain evidence that their sexual partners have consented to protect themselves from prosecution.
