A judge in Las Vegas filed formal rape charges against former NFL safety Darren Sharper on Friday.
According to an AP release via Twitter, former Pro-Bowl safety Darren Sharper will formally be charged with rape when a Las Vegas judge officially filed charges on Friday afternoon and a court date was set for April 3rd by Justice of the Peace Janeice Marshall according to ESPN.
BREAKING: Ex-NFL safety Darren Sharper charged with rape in Vegas after being accused in 3 other states.
— The Associated Press (@AP) March 20, 2015
The charges in Las Vegas correspond to two incidents in 2014 where Sharper is alleged to have forced himself on two women who were unable to resist. If convicted of the charges, Sharper could face a maximum of 20 years in jail. As part of the charges, a warrant was issued for Darren Sharper’s arrest. However, Nevada may need to wait in line.
More from Green Bay Packers
- Packers: 3 free agency mistakes Brian Gutekunst should already regret
- Packers president has unrealistic timeline to evaluate Jordan Love as franchise QB
- Packers rumors: Could Green Bay still address the worrisome safety room?
- 3 Packers who won’t be on the roster at the end of training camp
- Packers player is excited Green Bay is slept on heading into 2023
Sharper, who retired from the NFL in 2010, is currently in jail in Los Angeles, where he was charged with two counts of sexual assault stemming from an incident in 2013 where he allegedly drugged and raped two other women. He also faces additional charges in New Orleans (3 counts) and Arizona (3 counts) for drugging and raping women. He has already been indicted for the charges in Arizona.
The plethora of rape charges have clouded what would have normally been an automatic bid into the NFL Hall of Fame for Darren Sharper. Sharper, who would normally be eligible as part of the 2015 class for the NFL Hall of Fame in Canton, accumulated 63 interceptions, 11 touchdowns from interception, 2 more from fumbles, 7.5 career sacks, and 731 tackles in a 14-year career with the Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, and New Orleans Saints. However, as we discussed a few weeks back, the charges against him will certainly weigh on the voters. Some, like Peter King of Sports Illustrated, are already taking a stance that he will not consider Sharper’s legal fight against him in this case.
If I said, “I will not consider Sharper for induction because he has been accused of multiple rapes,” I would resign from the committee.
— Peter King (@peter_king) February 4, 2015
That said, the NFL Hall of Fame does not ask its voters to consider the character of any of the eligible candidates. This is directly different from Major League Baseball, which asks it voters the following:
"“Voting shall be based upon the player’s record, playing ability, integrity, sportsmanship, character, and contributions to the team(s) on which the player played.”"
Regardless of whether it is asked of the voters or not, the charges will likely hurt Sharper’s case for the Hall of Fame, especially in a class that includes Kurt Warner, Jerome Bettis, Tim Brown, Terrell Davis, Charles Haley, Will Shields, and Junior Seau among the players, and Tony Dungy and Jimmy Johnson among the coaches. Marvin Harrison is also eligible and faces a similar challenge as Sharper, after being tied to two shooting incidents but was ultimately not charged.
Next: 5 Worst NFL Free Agency Moves Thus Far
More from FanSided
- Joe Burrow owes Justin Herbert a thank you note after new contract
- Chiefs gamble at wide receiver could already be biting them back
- Braves-Red Sox start time: Braves rain delay in Boston on July 25
- Yankees: Aaron Boone gives optimistic return date for Aaron Judge
- MLB Rumors: Yankees-Phillies trade showdown, Mariners swoop, India goes to Seattle