terdShat terd
Men
The hidden half of domestic violence
Pittsburgh Steelers' star running back / False accusation
PITTSBURGH - The news was all good for
Jerome Bettis ... and his
reputation.
Tuesday at a press conference in Greensburg, Westmoreland County
District Attorney John Peck announced that charges of sexual assault
will not be filed against Bettis, the Pittsburgh Steelers' star
running back.
"Based on a review of what witnesses have given us, there certainly
is no sufficient evidence of Mr. Bettis' guilt," Peck said
A 22-year-old Westmoreland County woman - whose name has not been
released by authorities - had accused Bettis of forcing her to
perform oral sex on him the evening of Aug. 21 in Greensburg.
But weeks after that accusation, it was learned the woman and her
uncle, Charles Walters of Mount Pleasant, had discussed a scheme to
extort money from Bettis.
Peck did say said Bettis acknowledged to having consensual sex with
the woman. Butafter interviewing over 20 witnesses, there was no
evidence Bettis did anything illegal.
Around 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, Bettis entered the press room at the UPMC
Sports Performance Complex and told Steeler beat reporters he would
hold a 1:30 press conference of his own.
But after Bettis discussed the matter with Ron Wahl, the Steelers'
communications coordinator and his attorney, Robert Del Greco Jr. of
Pittsburgh, it was determined "The Bus" would not talk to the media
until today when the Steelers return to practice.
"I don't want to talk about it until tomorrow," Bettis said before
leaving Steelers' headquarters.
Around 11 a.m. Tuesday, Bettis did grant an interview with a news
reporter from WPXI-TV. But after that, Bettis was tight-lipped about
his ordeal.
"Jerome told her that he was relieved and that he was moving on," Del
Greco said after meeting with Bettis at Steeler headquarters.
"I just spent five minutes with him, and he said he has practice here
tomorrow. He said, 'Everyone will know where to find me. I'm sure
I'll have to apologize (for not showing up for the press conference
he called). But I have one thousand things to do. I just can't wait
around.
"We have said all along," Del Greco added, "that Jerome was innocent
of any sexual misconduct."
At his weekly press conference, Steelers coach Bill Cowher said he
never doubted Bettis' innocence.
"With the facts that have come out, it shows what type of person
Jerome is," Cowher said. "I think it is important that people
understand that and that this gets the same amount of (media)
attention as the initial headlines got."
Since the woman accused Bettis of sexual assault, police interviewed
"over two dozen witnesses," Peck said. Among them were two former
Penn State-McKeesport students who claimed their professor - Charles
Walters - told them of a plot to blackmail Bettis.
According to those witnesses, Walters told two students in March of a
scheme to lure a Steeler player into a fight during training camp at
Bobby Dale's Restaurant & Lounge, a nightspot in the Greensburg
Shopping Center.
If a fight happened, the "victim" would then file a lawsuit against
the player in hopes of winning a substantial financial settlement.
The scheme changed, however. Instead of a fight, the 22-year-old
woman would engage in sex with Bettis and then accuse him of rape in
hopes of winning an out-of-court settlement.
Del Greco said he and Bettis have discussed the possibility of filing
a civil lawsuit against the woman and Walters. But they decided to
"table it" until after the season is over.
Later, Del Greco issued a statement that read in part:
"We are grateful that Westmoreland County district attorney John Peck
and all local law enforcement authorities have done such a thorough
investigation of this case. It is deplorable that someone would make
such accusations against Jerome.
"On behalf of Jerome and his family, I can say we are all eager to
put this entire matter behind us."
Mike Bires can be reached online at
mbires@timesonline.com.
©Beaver County Times/Allegheny Times 2002
Bettis Accuser Scheduled to Appear in Court
Reported by Alan Jennings -- 10/16/02
Crystal Joy Pritts was due in court Wednesday for a hearing on a
probation violation not related to this case... that hearing never
happened.
Wednesday afternoon Channel 11 News caught up with Pritts' uncle who
talked about the case.
Charles Walters was identified by D.A. John Peck as under
investigation for allegedly scheming to set up Steelers running back
Jerome Bettis.
When we caught up with Walters today he didn't have much to say.
Charles Walters said, "You can direct all comments to Lee Demoski, my
attorney."
Our next stop of course was the office of Greensburg attorney, Lee
Demoski.
"The D.A. says that your client made admissions that he was looking
to set-up a Pittsburgh Steeler?" Channel 11's Alan Jennings asked.
"Well, I have ah no comments. I'm still in the investigation process
in the case myself so ah at the present time I just can't comment,"
Lee Demoski said.
According to D.A. John Peck, a uniformed police officer was
dispatched immediately that night to Bobby Dale's, right after a 911
call that someone had been sexually assaulted.
Police say the first person they encountered was Charles Walters who
reported that his niece had been sexually assaulted allegedly by a
Pittsburgh Steeler.
Peck's news conference Tuesday seemed to focus on Walters.
Peck said, "Walters disclosed he had developed a scheme in
conjunction with a female accomplice who would allege a sexual
misconduct by a Pittsburgh Steeler."
Peck never used the name of the woman Walters allegedly wanted to use
for the scheme.
"What about the D.A. saying your being investigated for extortion?"
Jennings asked.
"No comment," Walters said.
We're continuing to track the investigation now that Bettis has been
cleared.
Count on Channel 11 News and WPXI.COM to bring you the latest
developments on this story.
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JUNE is Domestic Violence Against Men Awareness Month