QBREES9

Steelers QB Roethlisberger accused of sexual assault in Georgia

Associated Press
MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. -- Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger's night of bar-hopping in a central Georgia college town ended with a new allegation against him after a 20-year-old college student told police that he sexually assaulted her in a nightclub.

The two-time Super Bowl winner already faces a lawsuit from a woman who claims Roethlisberger raped her in 2008 at a Lake Tahoe hotel and casino, an allegation he strongly denies. Roethlisberger hasn't been charged in either case.

Ben Roethlisberger has led the Steelers to two Super Bowl titles, but he has experienced off-the-field troubles.
The latest accusation came early Friday in downtown Milledgeville, about 85 miles southeast of Atlanta and about 30 miles south of the lake home that Roethlisberger owns.

Roethlisberger, who turned 28 on Tuesday, and two or three friends went to Buffington's bar earlier Thursday night to watch the University of Pittsburgh men's college basketball game, said Paul Kurcikevicus, a 24-year-old college student.

Kurcikevicus said the group was friendly, at first joking that Roethlisberger wasn't the NFL player. Kurcikevicus said Roethlisberger bought shots for him and some other people in the bar: "O-Bombs," a mixture of energy drink and flavored rum.

The student said Roethlisberger got excited at the end of the game, when a Pitt player hit a 3-point shot at the buzzer to win 73-71 and avoid an upset by Providence.

The group later went to The Brick restaurant nearby, owner Frank Pendergrast said.

"He was very polite with everybody," Pendergrast said. "He was down here from about 11:30 until about 1:30 having a good time, talking to a lot of people. Looked like he was signing autographs and letting people take pictures. Other than that, it was really uneventful."

Roethlisberger was later seen at Capital City, a popular nightclub for students at Georgia College & State University in Milledgeville. The club was bustling Friday night, with a country band playing and a $20 cover charge.

One patron, 21-year-old college student Brandon Harris, said he saw Roethlisberger come in the night before with two or three big men, who were keeping other club goers away from the quarterback. Harris said the group went into a curtained VIP area in the back of the club, and some women were let inside.

What happened next is under investigation.

Deputy Police Chief Richard Malone said Roethlisberger had been with three other people who were mingling with another group that included the alleged victim. Malone said the woman and her party contacted a nearby police officer following the alleged assault.

"He's been identified as being at the scene, and there are allegations naming him as the perpetrator," Malone said.

Several areas of the nightclub were considered a crime scene, Malone said, but he wouldn't elaborate. The nature of the assault wasn't described, but Malone did say it was being termed a sexual assault, not a rape.

Roethlisberger and the alleged victim were interviewed, and the woman was taken to a hospital, where she was treated and released, Malone said.

The woman wasn't identified by police, and The Associated Press doesn't generally identify possible victims of sexual abuse.

Police said Roethlisberger and his attorney were cooperating with investigators. Roethlisberger wasn't in custody and hasn't been charged with a crime.

Roethlisberger's agent, Ryan Tollner, said in a statement that he and his client are skeptical of the motive of the alleged victim in Milledgeville because of the previous Lake Tahoe allegations.

"Last night, Ben and his friends met a group of women and everyone mingled together throughout the evening," the agent's statement said. "We have spoken to law enforcement. Based on information currently available, an allegation was made against Ben, which appeared to be dismissed after a preliminary investigation last night. Obviously, given the prior accusation against Ben, we are skeptical of motive, but we will continue to cooperate with everyone involved."

Steelers spokesman Dave Lockett said the team was gathering information and had no more comment.



A first-round draft pick out of Miami of Ohio in 2004, Roethlisberger led the Steelers to Super Bowl victories in 2006 and 2009. But he has had his share of problems off the field.

Roethlisberger's previous accuser was working as a VIP hostess at Harrah's Lake Tahoe in July 2008 when she alleges the quarterback lured her to his room under false pretenses and forced himself on her. Roethlisberger was in town playing in a celebrity golf tournament.

Roethlisberger maintains the woman acted voluntarily at all times while in his room. Roethlisberger's lawyers have said the fact that she never filed a formal criminal complaint with police is proof she made up the story to try to secure a big payout from the NFL star.

The woman's lawsuit seeks at least $440,000 from Roethlisberger and at least $50,000 from Harrah's, claiming they conspired to cover up the incident.

Roethlisberger broke his jaw and several other facial bones in 2006 when he got into a motorcycle crash while driving without a valid license

Just a Joke, Big Ben going to the State Pen

www.sportsshooter.com/johnjcoleman

" Anyone can take a picture Only a Photographer can take a photograph "

breesfan27

AGAIN?!?! Geez! Big Ben can't catch a break for anything, can he?!

QBREES9

They are walking targets aren't they.

saintsfan1976

Okay does trouble follow this guy or what?

I understand that high profile players are "targets", but when do we start to question the player instead of the charges?

Big Ben is closing in fast on Pacman's reputation.

Saintswrath

WOW.. ok either he's really not liked, not attractive, have some anger problems, have a problem dating females, or... umm.. got a "LIL" problem down there.. otherwise these females wouldn't feel the need to press charges against him on Sexual assault, the dude need to seriously go find a female and settle down, obviously women wasn't his strong point growing up and i think he's trying to use his Pro status to get his way.

SaintPauly

I have to agree with Wrath on this one. Ben has been accused twice in the pros, and my brother told me he was also accused of this in college once. If that is true, that makes 3 times he's been involved with this. Kobe Bryant was accused once, and in public opinion poll, was guilty before the trial started. Mike Tyson as well. Why is Ben getting the benefit of the doubt here? Hmmmm..... I think we all know.

breesfan27

I'm not saying he did do it, or he didn't do it. But most of these women are just looking for a payout. The woman that filed charges against Micheal Irvin. She waited two years to file. You CAN'T tell me that isn't suspicious. If ANY guy sexually assaulted me, famous or not, you bet your ass I would file charges right away. I wouldn't wait 6 months, a year, two years to file charges.

If Ben is guilty, then he deserves punishment to the fullest extent.

73Saint

stupid is as stupid does. not saying he did it, but WTF...he's already been accused once before, IMO he should be aware of that and stear clear of trouble.

SaintPauly

It's very nice to see a woman with ethics, still alive and well in the world. I agree with you, that this could be just a skeezer, looking for a quick pay day. But I also agree, that Ben has to be smarter than this. Or at least I hope he is. When you are a high profile celebrity, that already has a history, whether it be true or not, you should NOT be going to bars, parties, or anywhere else, where you can be exploited like this.

Whether he's guilty or not, the court of public opinion can kill you in the press, and with endorsements. Maybe Kobe, Ben, and Tiger, can all do a Gillette commercial together......

What's popular is not always right, and what's right is not always popular.....

Saint_LB

This one is tough to call. Being that he has already been accused, one could say he has a giant bulls-eye on his chest for gold-digging crazies out there...and now it just got bigger. He needs to find a woman to settle down with, but I can understand someone's reluctance to do that. I mean, how would you like it if someone all the sudden reduced your menu to only one entre'?

One thing I can tell you for sure is this. If he likes being a star QB in the NFL, he better find a way to get-over his desire to get out in public and say, "Hey, look at me...I'm the big, star QB you've all seen on TV. Don't you all want to be with me?"

He needs to get over that real quick, IMO.

Whether you think you can or think you can't...you're right!