OL Carl Johnson arrested

[O-town Gator]

"University of Florida police arrested Gators offensive lineman Carl Johnson on Monday for violating a sexual violence restraining order, according to police records obtained by the Sentinel.

Johnson, 21, received the tempoary order to stay away from a woman last Monday but broke that order today when he followed her off a campus bus, according to the police report. Johnson had numerous chances to get off the bus but waited until the woman exited at the campus hub, the police report states.

The police report didn't detail the original incident involving the woman and Johnson, who faces a first degree misdemeanor. A clerk at Alachua County jail said Johnson had no previous jail records until he was booked at 1:21 p.m. No bond has been set."

Link: http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/sports_college_uf/2009/02/gators-ol-arrested.html

More from Ben Volin at the PBP: http://www.palmbeachpost.com/blogs/content/shared-blogs/palmbeach/ufblog/entries/2009/02/17/how_should_urban_meyer_deal_wi.html#jump

 

[O-town Gator]

Here's more from the Sentinel. Sounds like this is becoming more of a "he said-she said" thing, or at least that's how I'm reading it: http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/sports_college_uf/2009/02/gators-ol-carl-johnson-accused-of-date-rape.html

 

[GatorGuy8]

Doesn't seem all that bad. To me, at least.

I think he will get disciplined but doubt he get's suspended. And if he does it would probably be for one or both of the first two games, depending how many games (if any) he gets suspended.

 

[O-town Gator]

Looks like right now Coach Meyer is overseas; it's a waiting game to hear the other side of the story and that the ultimate consequences for Carl Johnson will be: http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/sports_college_uf/2009/02/playing-the-waiting-game-on-carl-johnson.html

 

[MahxFahn]

This sounds pretty bad to me. I hope you are right and it is a "he said-she said" thing.

Lineman accused of date rape


By Robbie Andreu
Staff writer

In a petition to obtain a temporary restraining order against Florida offensive lineman Carl Johnnson last week, a former girlfriend claims Johnson date-raped her on three occasions last fall and physically and emotionally abused her for months.

Johnson, 21, was arrested Monday by University Police for violating the restraining order that was issued on Feb. 9. Johnson sat across the aisle from his former girlfriend on a bus and followed her when she exited at the campus Hub on Monday. Johnson had several opportunities to leave the bus earlier. In his first appearance in court Tuesday morning, Johnson was ordered to stay 500 feet from his former girlfriend and released on his own recognizance.
Johnson's arrest stems from a petition filed by a former girlfriend who claims he date-raped her on three times - Sept. 15, Oct. 7 and Nov. 23. In the petition, she also accuses Johnson of a regular pattern of physical and emotional abuse during their relationship from July through December of 2008.
In the petition, Johnson's former girlfriend said he told her throughout their relationship that his No. 1 goal in life was to shoot and kill someone.
"I'm afraid of Carl and what he might do," the petitioner says in court documents. "His action are so unpredictable and what he has said to me about wanting to kill people and the fact that he threatened me is scary. Throughout our relationship, he also made it clear that he is not afraid to put his hands on a woman. His physical size is not only intimidating, as he is 6-7 and 350 pounds, but his status on the football team at UF is too. He has access to people who could physically harm me."
Also, according to the petition, there were times when Johnson would claim to "play fighting," but that "he was rough enough for me to say it hurt and it made me feel inferior and fearful. He would shake me, bite me and hit me," his former girlfriend said.
According to the petition, when she told Johnson's family about his behavior and Johnson found out, he told her he planned to "go upstairs and get his gun." According to the petition, when she said he could end up in jail, he said, "I don't care. At least it would be for something good."
At this point, Johnson is facing no criminal charges based on the accusations made against him in the petition. As for violating a restraining order, Johnson is facing a first-degree misdemeanor.
UF director of sports information Steve McClain said head coach Urban Meyer is out of the country, but that school officials are aware of Johnson's situation and that "we are in the process of gathering all the details."
Johnson is the fourth UF player to be arrested in the past 10 months. The other three — safety Jamar Hornsby, cornerback Jacques Rickerson and quarterback Cameron Newton — were dismissed from the team by Meyer. Hornsby was charged with felony credit card fraud, Rickerson was accused of domestic battery, and Newton was arrested for theft.
Johnson and his former girlfriend will appear in court Feb. 24 for a hearing to determine the status of the temporary restraining order issued against Johnson on Feb. 9.
Johnson is being represented by Gainesville attorney Huntley Johnson, who has represented numerous UF football players over the past several years.

ORIGIN

 

[Leakfan12]

Doesn't sound good.

 

[O-town Gator]

I still think something isn't kosher. Carl and his girlfriend broke up before the restraining order was issued, and now all these allegations are surfacing?

If this girl was so afraid of Johnson, then (1) why did she stay with him as long as she did, and (2) if he did indeed "date-rape" her, WHY didn't she call the police?

If we all remember the episode with the Duke lacrosse team, after everybody played judge, jury and executioner it turned out that the charges made against those players were fabricated.

That's why Carl Johnson should be given the opportunity to state his side of the case, and then afterward let the final decision be made. If he's found guilty beyond all reasonable doubt, it's likely coach Meyer will dismiss him from the team, knowing he has zero-tolerance for violent acts against women. Still, Carl's innocent until proven guilty.

 

[DocZaius]

It doesn't take a heck of a lot to get a TRO. There's no real vetting of the facts behind the allegations.

 

[Leakfan12]

Man I hope Nancy Grace doesn't get involved. Hope you're right O-Town.

 

[Jack&Dew]

I agree that a person is innocent until proven guilty and I hope for his sake this is true. If he knew that the restraining order was in place he should have kept a very long distance away from this girl especially since the allegations she has against him.

Again, I hope they are false and I hope he gets wise and stays miles away from her.

 

[O-town Gator]

Still, there are some in the media who are already playing judge, jury and executioner: http://www.alligator.org/articles/2009/02/18/sports/sports_columns/090218_phil.txt

 

[Leakfan12]

Usually if a female screams "Rape!" most people side with the female and want the guy (or guys) hanged. It happened with Kobe, Duke lacrosse players, and Colt Brennan before he went to Hawaii. It's a bad situation for everybody. I'm sure Urban Meyer didn't want this headache (no coach does). I hoping this gets solved ASAP.

 

[O-town Gator]

Usually if a female screams "Rape!" most people side with the female and want the guy (or guys) hanged. It happened with Kobe, Duke lacrosse players, and Colt Brennan before he went to Hawaii. It's a bad situation for everybody. I'm sure Urban Meyer didn't want this headache (no coach does). I hoping this gets solved ASAP.

That's precisely why I see all this as a "he said - she said" thing right now. Everything out in the media now is one-sided and biased against Carl Johnson, and I'd like to see what he has to say.

 

[CaliZona_Gator]

Just sounds like a crazy ex-girlfriend to me

 

[castawaygator]

Usually if a female screams "Rape!" most people side with the female and want the guy (or guys) hanged. It happened with Kobe, Duke lacrosse players, and Colt Brennan before he went to Hawaii. It's a bad situation for everybody. I'm sure Urban Meyer didn't want this headache (no coach does). I hoping this gets solved ASAP.

your forgetting the most famous and most recent case!!! Hello Duke Rape case!!!

women and the public need to shake the nasty habit of assuming the man is at fault and is a rapist while proclaiming the female to be a victim/angel. Rape is terrible and should be punished, but make sure you are punishing the correct person. you never know it could even be a woman!

 

[leakbrewergator]

your forgetting the most famous and most recent case!!! Hello Duke Rape case!!!

women and the public need to shake the nasty habit of assuming the man is at fault and is a rapist while proclaiming the female to be a victim/angel. Rape is terrible and should be punished, but make sure you are punishing the correct person. you never know it could even be a woman!

He actually did refer to the Duke rape case in his post.

This all reminds me of the episode of 90210 when Steve Sanders was being accused accused of rape. Everyone bought the girl's story and turned on Steve before he had a chance to prove his innocence.

 

[O-town Gator]

Looks like his hearing has been pushed forward to April 7: http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/sports_college_uf/2009/02/hearing-delayed-for-gators-ol-carl-johnson.html

 

[O-town Gator]

Coach Meyer is waiting until April 7 for Johnson's hearing date: http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/sports_college_uf/2009/03/college-football-urban-meyer-vague-on-carl-johnsons-status.html

 

[O-town Gator]

Looks like the charges against Johnson have been dismissed: http://www.gatorsports.com/article/20090309/ARTICLES/903090909/1136?Title=Charge-vs-Carl-Johnson-dismissed

Until the recent ruling, Johnson was barred from the weight room and other team activities: http://www.palmbeachpost.com/blogs/content/shared-blogs/palmbeach/ufblog/entries/2009/03/09/no_rape_charges_will_be_filed.html

 

[Leakfan12]

I hope he keeps his noise clean and stays away from her.