Ex-NFL star Dana Stubblefield sentenced to 15 years to life for rape

Stubblefield's attorneys are appealing the verdict

Former NFL star, Dana Stubblefield, has been sentenced to 15 years to life for raping a prospective babysitter.

Stubblefield, who played for the San Francisco 49ers was sentenced on Thursday for raping the woman at his home in Morgan Hill, California five years ago, according to The Mercury News.

Dana Stubblefield #94, Defensive Tackle for the Washington Redskins during the American Football Conference East game against the New York Jets on 26 September 1999 at the Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey, United States. The Redskins won the game 27 – 20. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

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Judge Arthur Bocanegra issued the sentence but Stubblefield’s attorneys, Kenneth Rosenfeld and Allen Sawyer plan to appeal the decision. 

“’No’ meant nothing to this defendant,” said Deputy District Attorney Tim McInerney in a statement.  “Based on his status, I think he was never held accountable for prior criminal behavior. Today, he was properly held accountable.”

Stubblefield’s representation claim Bocanegra didn’t allow the most substantial evidence into the trial which is that the woman who is being called, Jane Doe had paid sex with Stubblefield and that she was not mentally disabled as the prosecution suggested. 

“We proved it, and the jury found that was not true,” said Sawyer. “That false narrative corrupted this trial from start to finish.”

The jury found Stubblefield guilty of raping the woman and threatening her with a gun. The woman claims she went to Stubblefield’s home on April 9, 2015, for a babysitting interview and after initially leaving, she returned to collect $80 for reimbursement for the drive to his home. She then claimed once she returned he locked the door and carried her to a bedroom.

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Stubblefield was also found guilty of forcible oral copulation and false imprisonment. 

“We’re looking forward to putting it in front of an appellate court, and believe the jury would have come to a different conclusion if that evidence came in,” Sawyer said.

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