Former Pro-Bowler, NFL Network Analyst, Charged With Sexual Assault in Los Angeles

Darren Sharper, Former NFL Superstar, Charged With 2 Counts of Sexual Assault in Los Angeles

Facts:

Darren Sharper-Center and Attorney Blair Burk- Right

• Sharper played 14 seasons as safety in the NFL
• He was the 60th overall pick in the 1997 NFL draft (William & Mary College)
• Worked for WWL-TV (New Orleans) and, most recently, NFL Network

Darren Sharper was charged with two counts of sexual assault Friday, and, according to court documents, is under investigation on six other counts of drug related rape, otherwise known as "date rape."

On January 17th of this year, Sharper was arrested in Los Angeles on the 2 counts of sexual assault but was released on a $200,000 bond. His arraignment was set for Friday, February 14th.

Sharper appeared in court on Friday for arraignment, but it was postponed upon the request of his lawyer. During the court hearing, prosecutors filed a motion to raise his bail to ten million dollars, but the judge didn't immediately accept or deny the motion.

In the bail motion, prosecutors outlined a pattern of allegations of sexual assault across 4 different states in which Sharper allegedly drugged 11 people and sexually assaulted 7 different women within a less than 5 month span of time.

On September 23rd, 2013, a New Orleans woman alleges that she met Sharper at an event for New Orleans Saints players.  After the event ended, she says she accompanied Sharper to a bar where she passed out after being given a drink by the former football player. The victim says that she woke up while being sexually assaulted by Sharper. After an examination at University Hospital, doctors found Sharper's DNA on a perineal swab taken from the victim during the examination.

Bootsy Bellows in Hollywood

On October 30th, 2013 in Los Angeles, California, two women met Sharper at Bootsy Bellows, a west Hollywood bar located on the famed Sunset Boulevard. Sharper invited the women to an "after-party," and they consented to accompany him. Using a car service, Sharper stopped at his hotel room to retrieve "something," according to the victims. Afterwards, they accompanied him to his hotel room. After accepting a drink, allegedly "Coffee Patron," from Sharper, the women say that they were asleep within 2 minutes. Hours later, one of the women says she woke up while being sexually assaulted by Sharper. The other woman says that she woke up on the sofa in his suite and walked in while Sharper was sexually assaulting the first woman and "stopped his actions," according to court documents, at which time they gathered their belongings and left the area of the hotel by way of a taxi cab.

On November 20th, 2013 in Scottsdale, Arizona, two women say they met Sharper at a club in the aforementioned city. One of the women says that the other woman began acting strangely, prompting her friend to take her home. Sharper reportedly returned to the apartment with the women. A third woman was at the apartment and helped the first woman put pajamas on the second woman and put her in bed. Afterwards, the two conscious women say that Sharper provided them with an unknown alcoholic beverage. One of the women claims that she "blacked out" and didn't remember anything until she woke up at approximately 8:15 AM the next day at which time she gathered her belongings and left the apartment. The first woman claims that immediately after taking the shot, she began to feel disoriented, prompting her to proceed to her bedroom to lie down. She claims that on her way to the bathroom, she witnessed Sharper on top of the aforementioned woman with his buttocks exposed. The aforementioned woman says that she woke up with the bottom half of her body exposed. She claims that she didn't know how her pants and underwear were removed. After the incident, both women sought medical treatment. Investigators gathered evidence in the women's apartment, subsequently testing a cup and finding zolpidem, otherwise known as ambien, in a cup taken from the residence.

On January 14th, 2014 in Los Angeles, California, two women allege that they met Sharper at Bootsy Bellows. As the club was closing, Sharper invited both women to an "after-party." The three stayed at the party until 4:00 AM, at which time Sharper invited them to another "after-party." While en-route to the second party location, he stated that he needed to stop by his hotel room to retrieve some type of narcotics at which time he invited both women up to his suite. After they arrived at his residence, Sharper provided both women with an unknown alcoholic beverage. Within minutes of drinking the unknown substance, both women report that they "blacked out." At 8:30 AM, the women reportedly woke up on the pull-out sofa in the living room. One woman says that she immediately felt as if she had been sexually assaulted. They gathered their belongings and left the apartment, seeking medical attention the same evening. They both reported intermittent memory loss.

On January the 15th, 2014 in Las Vegas, Nevada, two women and one man reportedly met Sharper at a club in the city where Sharper invited the three to his hotel room for an "after-party." Whenever they arrived, they noticed that there was nobody else present in his hotel room at which time Sharper gave them all shots of an unknown beverage. All three reported that they immediately blacked out and lost consciousness. One of the women reported that she woke up next to Sharper in his bed, got up to use the restroom, and noticed visible injuries to her face of which she could not account for. She got back into the bed with Sharper. When she awoke once again, Sharper asked her how she was feeling, claiming that she had vomited the night before. Sharper then gave her an unknown beverage, claiming that it would make her feel better. After taking a few sips of the beverage, the woman claims that her next memory of consciousness was of Sharper sexually assaulting her. Later that day, the other woman claims that she woke up alone in the living room of the suite and felt immediately as if she had been sexually assaulted. Later that evening, both women sought medical attention at which time they were given a sexual assault examination. Both women and the unknown man reported having intermittent memory loss. The man says that his first memory of consciousness after taking the shot was of him sitting alone at the bar in the same hotel. He does not know how he got there. Las Vegas Police Officer Jose Hernandez says that the investigation is ongoing and will be submitted to the local District Attorney's office.

Darren Sharper- Right Side

 Darren Sharper has hired famed defense attorney, Blair Burk, whom has defended such celebrities as Mel Gibson, Lindsey Lohan, Ceelo Green, and Kanye West. After his arraignment hearing, which was postponed until February 20th, Burk said to media and reporters, "We look forward to the true facts being revealed in this case, and we are hopeful that Mr. Sharper will be fully exonerated before this case is concluded." Sharper is expected to enter a plea at the February 20th arraignment.

Sharper has only been formally charged in the alleged January 14th assault, but the other alleged assaults are still being investigated.

Sharper was a 14 year veteran of the NFL. He played for the Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, and New Orleans Saints. He is a 5 time pro-bowler, former Super Bowl champion, and 6 time selection to the NFL's All Pro Team along with being a 2 time All American in college. After retirement, he worked as an analyst for WWL-TV in New Orleans, and, most recently, the NFL Network.

He has been suspended without pay by the NFL. They refused to comment on the matter stating that they do not comment on ongoing investigations.

List of Athletes Who Were Charged With Sex Crimes:

• Mike Tyson
• Ruben Patterson
• Tom Payne
• Mel Hall
• "Fast" Eddie Johnson
• Trevor Berbick
• Thomas Henderson
• Dave Meggett
• Nate Webster
• Keith Wright
• Chad Curtis