No charges for Steelers QB

Associated Press

MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga.

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who won’t face criminal charges after a 20-year-old college student accused him of sexually assaulting her inside a nightclub’s bathroom, said Monday he knows he’ll have to work to regain the trust of teammates and fans.

Ocmulgee Circuit Dis-trict Attorney Fred Bright said Monday that after exhaustive interviews and inconclusive medical exams, the student’s accusations could not be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

Bright also revealed the young accuser no longer wanted him to prosecute.

Bright said he continued to investigate the case, but ultimately decided against moving forward partly because he was never able to find out what happened behind the bathroom door at the Capital City club.

“Here the overall circumstances do not lead to a viable prosecution. If they did, I would be pursuing it vigorously,” Bright said. “We do not prosecute morals. We prosecute crimes.”

Roethlisberger in his first public remarks since the accusations on March 5 read a 74-second statement Monday at a podium in the Steelers locker room.

“The prosecutor’s decision not to bring charges, I know without a doubt, is the right conclusion,” said Roethlisberger.

Roethlisberger did not discuss his upcoming meeting with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell or any possible punishment that might come from the league or the team for violating the players’ conduct code.

“I am excited to get back to work with my teammates, and I’m more determined than ever to have a great season,” he said.