What to know about Terrence Shannon Jr.’s rape arrest as Illinois plays in 2024 NCAA Tournament

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On Jan. 24 inside Welsh-Ryan Arena, Northwestern fans chanted “No means no” throughout the Wildcats’ game vs. Illinois as a means to heckle Illini guard Terrence Shannon Jr., who was making his return from a suspension stemming from a 2023 rape case in Kansas.

Shannon missed six games while suspended but successfully sued his school and was cleared to return to play, but fans have not shied away from heckling him on the road since his return. And while the case with the school is settled, the criminal case remains ongoing, opening up the spectacle of controversy as No. 3 seed Illinois begins its NCAA Tournament run Thursday vs. No. 14 seed Morehead State in the first round.

Here’s what we know about the timeline and details of the case against Shannon, who has maintained his innocence since charges were brought against him in December. 

Dec. 5, 2023: Shannon is charged with one count of rape or an alternative count of sexual battery after a woman alleged that he grabbed her buttocks, reached under her skirt and touched her inappropriately on Sept. 8 in Lawrence, Kansas. 

Dec. 28, 2023: Shannon turns himself in and is arrested one day after a warrant is issued. He is released on $50,000 bail. Illinois suspends Shannon indefinitely, citing a zero-tolerance sexual conduct policy. Shannon’s attorney, Mark P. Sutter, issues a statement acknowledging the accusation surfaced in September 2023 but that his client has declared his innocence since the beginning. 

Jan. 2, 2024: Shannon Jr. writes a 1,366-word letter addressed to the University of Illinois student-athlete conduct panel, in which he continues to declare his innocence and pleads for the suspension to be overturned. The letter reads in part: 

As to the criminal charges against me, I am declaring my innocence, as I did back in September. I have totally cooperated with that process and will continue to do so. While I appreciate my lawyers and their ability to fight the…

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Source link : https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/what-to-know-about-terrence-shannon-jr-s-rape-arrest-as-illinois-plays-in-2024-ncaa-tournament/

Author : Kyle Boone

Publish date : 2024-03-21 17:54:16

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