Florida QB Treon Harris cleared to return to team after accuser withdraws sexual assault claim
University of Florida quarterback Treon Harris is back with the team Friday after a sexual battery complaint made against him at the beginning of the week was withdrawn.
University of Florida quarterback Treon Harris is back with the team Friday after a sexual battery complaint made against him at the beginning of the week was withdrawn.
Head Coach Will Muschamp said in a statement that, “We have been notified that the University and legal process is complete… This has been a learning experience for everyone involved. Treon has been honest with me throughout the process and is looking forward to rejoining his teammates.” The coach indicated that Harris would not, however, play in Saturday’s game against LSU.
The complaint, filed October 6, alleged that the freshman player had committed sexual battery against an unidentified victim. This resulted in the 19-year-old Harris’ immediate indefinite suspension, barring him from team activities and even setting foot on campus.
Harris’ lawyer, Huntley Johnson, issued a press release on Thursday in strong support of his client’s innocence. In the lengthy statement, Johnson wrote,
We know that an individual has given testimony to law enforcement that he had sexual relations with the alleged victim less than an hour before the alleged sexual conduct with our client took place. In fact, testimony indicates that the young lady in question was the sexual aggressor in that interaction… We believe the evidence will show the alleged victim was in fact in the sexual aggressor with not one, but two young men early last Sunday morning.
Upon hearing the news that the alleged victim had withdrawn her complaint, Johnson told Mike Bianchi of the Orlando Sentinel that he was “pleased for Treon Harris and his family. The ball is in the University’s court.”
Harris, a true freshman, entered Florida’s October 4 matchup after junior Jeff Driskel, the team’s starter, was benched in the third quarter against Tennessee. Harris led the Gators to a 10–9 win, spurring rumblings of a potential quarterback controversy in Gainesville. Instead, a different controversy erupted on Monday, following the complaint.
Although Johnson indicated that his client was “no longer banned from campus” and could “resume UF activities,” a formal investigation by the University of Florida is pending. According to Title IX, schools must independently investigate allegations of sexual assault, even if the police do not charge the accused player.
If it’s found that the filer of the complaint made a false claim, she could be charged with a misdemeanor in Florida, according to ESPN.
