Just days after walking out of prison a free man, former San Francisco 49ers star Dana Stubblefield made a statement following the overturning of his conviction.
A judge granted Stubblefield’s release after a rape conviction from 2020 was vacated by a California appeals court back in December.
The Sixth Court of Appeals overturned the conviction after finding that prosecutors made racially discriminatory statements during his trial. But Stubblefield, a Black man, stayed in prison because a lower court judge said he didn’t have the jurisdiction to grand bail or release.
Finally, after further delays, Stubblefield was released on Friday from a facility where he had already served four years of a 15-year sentence.
Speaking to the press with his attorneys by his side, Stubblefield said that he was looking forward to making up for lost time with his family.
‘First of all I want to say, throughout this tough ordeal, I always believed the truth would come out,’ Stubblefield said. ‘There was long nights where I sat in my cell, an innocent man, wondering if things would ever be right. But I held onto hope.
Former NFL star Dana Stubblefield speaks to the media after being set free from prison
Stubblefield (center) had a rape conviction from 2020 overturned on appeal in December
‘I want to thank my family and friends who stood by me during these hard times and I’ll forever be grateful for their support. It’s tough to express everything I’m feeling so please bear with me.
‘Being back home with my family after four long years is incredible. the time away from my wife and kids was the hardest part. I love you all so much and I want to thank you for standing by me.’
He continued: ‘I’m not angry, but I know I’m an innocent man – and while there are steps ahead, things are looking up.’
Stubblefield then went on to thank his two trial attorneys and his appeals attorney, saying, ‘they’ve never given up on me and worked timelessly for my freedom.
He concluded: ‘Now I really wanna focus on what truly matters: watching my son play football, coaching him a little bit, and having dinner with my wife. You have no idea how I miss spending time with my family and friends. We all take the time for granted, but I won’t.’
Stubblefield was sentenced to 15 years to life in prison in October 2020 after being convicted of raping a woman in 2015 who prosecutors said he lured to his home with the promise of a babysitting job. Defense attorneys argued that no rape occurred, and Stubblefield said the woman consented to sex in exchange for money.
Deputy District Attorney Tim McInerny objected to Stubblefield´s release at Friday´s hearing and said his office plans to re-file charges, The Mercury News reported.
‘A jury unanimously found Mr. Stubblefield guilty of raping a woman at gunpoint, he was given an appropriate sentence, and we felt that justice had been served,’ Assistant District Attorney Terry Harman said in a statement.
Stubblefield pictured outside of a courthouse in January of 2008
Stubblefield began his 11-year lineman career in the NFL with the 49ers in 1993
‘That justice has been interrupted and although we are disappointed that the judge released Mr. Stubblefield from custody while we await a decision from the California Supreme Court, we remain focused on the sexual assault that occurred, the victim, and the need for accountability and community safety.’
The Sixth Court of Appeals found that prosecutors violated the California Racial Justice Act of 2020, a law passed during a summer of protest over the police killing of George Floyd. The measure bars prosecutors from seeking a criminal conviction or imposing a sentence on the basis of race.
The appeals court said prosecutors used ‘racially discriminatory language’ that required them to overturn Stubblefield´s conviction.
‘The entire trial was infected with error and bias from the start,’ Rosenfeld said. ‘This was a consensual, transactional encounter, and (Stubblefield) lost years of his life due to a flagrantly biased trial that blocked critical evidence and allowed prejudice and racial bias into the courtroom.’
Rosenfeld said prosecutors used ‘prejudicial racial tropes’ and called Stubblefield a ‘large Black man’ in front of the jury during his trial.
The terms of his supervised release include wearing an ankle monitor, not possessing firearms, and being barred from contacting the reported rape victim.
Stubblefield began his 11-year lineman career in the NFL with the 49ers in 1993 as the league´s defensive rookie of the year. He later won the NFL Defensive Player of the Year honors in 1997 before leaving the team to play for Washington.
He returned to the Bay Area to finish his career, playing with the 49ers in 2000-01 and the Raiders in 2003.
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