I come in peace. You guys are an impressive fan base, and program.
I want to try to genuinely answer the above question.
It’s not about “innocent until proven guilty”, as much as the absence of an actual crime.
The criminal complaint (alleged victim’s version of events) states:
- Terrence waved the woman over to him, where he already had one arm around another woman
- She obliged, he put his arm around her, hand on her shoulder.
- some time later, he moved his hand down to her rear end (over her skirt)
- then to her rear end under the skirt
- then eventually put his hand in her underwear, with penetration (apologies for being graphic)
- 5 to 10 seconds later she stepped away. At which point, he made no effort to continue or restrain her
- at no point did she attempt to stop him physically until the moment she stepped away, unimpeded.
- at no point did she say anything to indicate she wanted him to stop, “no”, or anything of the sort
That’s it. Three months later, after not interviewing anyone who was with Terrence and not interviewing the woman’s friend who was with her, the Lawrence County DA charged him with felony rape.
The university suspended him, as required by policy. A federal judge reviewed the case and the suspension and reinstated him.
The above are all facts, in that they are the alleged victim’s version of events.
My added conjecture is that the DA is under investigation and widely suspected of charging young men with felonies, thereby securing plea deals for misdemeanors when they are threatened with 20 years in prison, boosting her sexual assault convictions.
Not his proudest moment to be sure, but not a crime in most people’s opinion. To face the public labeling of “rapist” and constant taunts and threats that he does for what would seem to be consensual touching in a bar (based on HER statement)… that is why the fans support him.