Suspended Tennessee wide receiver Von Pearson won't be charged after he was named the suspect in a rape investigation this spring.
Knox County District Attorney Charme Allen issued a statement Wednesday and said that after reviewing the charges there was insufficient evidence to press charges against Pearson.
Pearson was named as a suspect in an April investigation. According to the initial report, a woman reported an alleged rape the morning of April 24. The Knoxville Deputy Police Chief said the woman had identified Pearson has her attacker.
Six witnesses were listed in the case including two football players.
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Pearson has been suspended from the school and football team since the investigation. A spokesperson for the school told the AP that Pearson's status with the team was unchanged.
''It is our hope that the university, based on this new development, will do the right thing and lift the suspension of Von Pearson immediately,'' Pearson's lawyer Chris Coffey said Wednesday in an email statement via the AP.
According to VolQuest.com, Pearson's status with the school "could be resolved in the next 24-48 hours."
Pearson, scheduled to be a senior in 2015, led the team in receiving touchdowns in 2014 with five. He had 38 catches for 393 yards.
U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights began an investigation into Tennessee for sexual violence in July. The investigation came after an individual filed a complaint with the office. Pearson is one of multiple football players who has been accused of sexual misconduct. Former linebacker A.J. Johnson and cornerback Michael Williams were indicted on rape charges in February.
For more Tennessee news, visit VolQuest.com.
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Nick Bromberg is the assistant editor of Dr. Saturday on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at nickbromberg@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!
