Prosecutors reject assault charge

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Prosecutors rejected a sexual assault claim against Los Angeles Lakers center Kwame Brown on Tuesday because of a lack of evidence.
The allegation was made during the Lakers' first-round Western Conference playoff series with Phoenix and had been under investigation since. Brown, who was not arrested, said at the time he was innocent.
"I am gratified that the authorities have come to the same conclusion and that the matter is being dropped," he said in a statement issued Tuesday through his agent. "I have been upset and frustrated to be wrongly and very publicly accused of something that I did not do and to have my name and reputation so unfairly damaged."
Deputy District Attorney Darci Johnson wrote in an evaluation of the case that the decision not to prosecute was made after "a medical exam of the victim was reviewed and revealed no signs of forcible sexual assault." There was also no corroborating forensic evidence found and Brown's attorney refused to allow him to talk to police.
The woman claimed the assault occurred in the early morning hours of April 29, hours after Game 3 of the playoff series, which Phoenix went on to win.
In reasoning against filing charges, the evaluation described the claim as a "one on one" allegation.
The woman "admits engaging in some consensual activity" with Brown prior to the alleged assault and she remained in his home for several hours afterward, it said.
The woman's statements were consistent, the evaluation noted, but "the lack of physical evidence or a statement by the suspect means the case cannot be proven at the appropriate standard."
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