Follow-up: Reds pitcher Shackelford won't face charges

Reds pitcher won't face sex charge
By DERRICK NUNNALLYdnunnally@journalsentinel.com
Posted: July 18, 2006

Cincinnati Reds minor-league pitcher Brian Shackelford won't be facing criminal charges in Milwaukee County over the sexual assault allegations earlier this month that led to his arrest.

Assistant District Attorney Kenneth Berg said Tuesday that "the evidence did not support criminal prosecution" against Shackelford, who had been arrested on suspicion of third-degree sexual assault after an encounter with a woman he met through Match.com.
At the time of his arrest July 6, police sources familiar with the case said Shackelford, who was in town playing for the Reds at the time, met the woman online and the two went to a hotel room and took off their clothes. The woman told police her understanding was there would be just touching but there was sex, the sources said.

After his arrest, Shackelford was sent down to the minor-league Louisville Bats of the Class AAA International League. His attorney, Michael F. Hart, said the District Attorney's investigation found "compelling evidence" of Shackelford's innocence but did not know what specific finding cleared Shackelford.

"He can now get back to the business of his baseball career," Hart said.
In a statement released by the Reds organization, Shackelford said he was relieved and grateful.
"I want to apologize to the Cincinnati Reds organization for any negative publicity this may have caused," he said. "I hope that any damage to my reputation from this unfortunate incident will not be long-lasting, and that I can continue to work hard to help the Cincinnati Reds long into the future."

Jonathan C. Smith, an attorney for Shackelford's accuser, said the woman was "quite devastated" when she learned the pitcher would not be criminally charged.

"The District Attorney makes that decision, and there's not a lot we can do about that," Smith said.