Webber, Howard: No Prosecution

By CBSNews.com staff CBSNews.com staff

May 21, 1998 / 11:49 PM EDT / CBS Sportsline

Former Washington Wizards teammates Juwan Howard and Chris Webber will not be prosecuted in connection with a sexual assault complaint filed after a party at Howard's house.
"After a thorough and deliberate consideration of the facts and circumstances of this case, by the police and grand jury, it has been determined that prosecution is not warranted and this matter is closed," Montgomery County State's Attorney Robert L. Dean said Thursday.

Howard, who is still with the Wizards, and Webber, who was traded last week to the Sacramento Kings in part because of his off-the-court problems, were named by a Connecticut woman in a complaint filed April 6 after a late party at Howard's house in Potomac, Md.

"Both my client and I are extremely disappointed," said Ned Collier, the woman's lawyer."It's a situation where she's been denied her day in court. She was looking forward to have her case heard before a jury instead of a grand jury."

Both players denied any wrongdoing, and the investigation was turned over to a grand jury. The panel heard testimony from many of the 40 or so people who attended the party, as well as the accuser herself. Howard and Webber did not testify, and their lawyers did not allow them to be interviewed by police.

"I am satisfied that the grand jury took this matter seriously and carefully considered it," Dean said.

"I think it's the correct decision," said Webber's attorney, Marcell Solomon. "Every one of (the accuser's) friends -- including the ones that rode with her in the car -- said there was no sexual assault."

Solomon said Webber was out of town and not available for comment. Howard's attorney, Billy Martin, did not return calls.

Lawyers for Webber and Howard had offered different explanations for what happened at the party. Howard's attorney, Billy Martin, said the woman initiated a consensual sex act but did not say with whom. Webber's lawyer, Marcele Solomon, said his client already had left Howard's house when the alleged incident occurred.

Collier said his client testified that she went to a room with Webber and was struck, cutting her lip, then restrained by one of four people present in the room before being sexually assaulted.

Collier said he and his client will discuss possible civil action against the two players.

The grand jury's decision does not relieve Webber of his legal woes. He is awaiting trial in nearby Prince George's County on charges of marijuana possession, second-degree assault, resisting arrest and several traffic-related offenses. He was arrested after being stopped for speeding on the way to a Wizards practice in January.