Posts Tagged: rape allegations

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People magazine’s most eligible bachelor arrested for rape

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A former Boston prosecutor who was once named one of PEOPLE's most eligible bachelors has been charged with rape.

Gary Zerola, 49, of Salem, was arraigned on Jan. 15 on charges of rape and breaking and entering with felony intent. He is being held without bond.

The former defense attorney was once named to People's list of "America's Top 50 Bachelors."

According to Suffolk County District Attorney Rachael Rollins, Zerola is a danger to the community because he has rape allegations dating back to 1996.

Zerola grew up in the foster care system and lived in more than a dozen homes. After aging out of the system, he graduated with dual degrees in law and public administration from Suffolk University, according to the NY Post.

Zerola was already out on bail for a 2016 rape when the January 12 attack occurred, Masslive.com reported.

Zerola met his latest victim at a gathering on Jan. 11 and dropped her off at her apartment, along with a mutual friend.

Prosecutor's say Zerola returned later than night, and the victim awoke to find him on top of her.

Zerola has pleaded not guilty to rape and breaking and entering charges.

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Kodak Black may end up back in prison despite Trump’s commutation

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Kodak Black was released from a federal prison in Illinois after being pardoned by former President Donald Trump on his last day in office.

Black tweeted his thanks to Trump on Wednesday: "I Want To Thank The President @RealDonaldTrump For His Commitment To Justice Reform And Shortening My Sentence. I Also Want To Thank Everyone For Their Support And Love. It Means More Than You Will Ever Know. I Want To Continue Giving Back, Learning And Growing. @DanScavino."

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But according to reports, prosecutors in South Carolina are preparing to pursue the rapper on a felony charge of first-degree criminal sexual conduct.

Ed Clements, the 12th Circuit Solicitor in Florence County, tells TMZ that he filed a retainer against the rapper and plans to "aggressively" pursue Black, whose legal name is Bill Kapri.

Trump commuted Black's 46-month sentence for making a false statement on a federal document to purchase a gun in Florida. Convicted felons can't purchase firearms, and pardons for a federal crime have no impact on state cases.

Prosecutors in S.C. claim Black forced himself on an 18-year-old girl in a hotel room after a Feb. 2016 concert, allegedly raping her and biting her neck and right breast, according to legal docs obtained by TMZ.

Black's attorney in S.C., Beattie Ashmore, tells TMZ, "Aggressively prosecute? It's been four years. That speaks volumes. Kodak was on bond and on tour for two years before his federal case even began. Ed's a very fine and experienced prosecutor and I look forward to once again speaking with him about this case. It's been awhile."

Black faces up to 30 years in state prison, if convicted.

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Open Post: Wendy Williams says she was raped by ’80s R&B singer

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Wendy Williams claims she was date raped by 1980s singer Sherrick. Wendy made the shocking revelation while promoting her upcoming Lifetime biopic, "Wendy Williams: The Movie."

Wendy, 56, says the effeminate singer "mesmerized" her with his "twinkling eyes" during an interview in 1988.

"His name was Sherrick [and] he was a one-hit wonder, remember the song. It was called 'Just Call' and it was number one on the R&B charts and an overnight sensation," she told The NY Daily News.

"He was in D.C. I was a cute radio DJ. He'd asked me did I want to accompany him to his album release celebration in D.C. and I said 'yes.' I got off the air and went back to his hotel room with him," said Williams.

"He said he wanted to shower and freshen up and introduced cocaine to the scene," she added. "I was already familiar with cocaine so I was continuing to party while he was in the shower. And I was sitting on the bed minding my own business."

The harrowing rape scene is played out in graphic detail in the biopic, starring Ciara Peyton as Wendy, and actor Nykeem Provo portraying the rapist.

Wendy fought back tears as she recalled the incident.

"I left after that and went home and scrubbed my skin off, cried and that was that," the Asbury Park, N.J., native recalled. "I never told anybody. I just handled it and that's it."

Sherrick is best known for his single "Just Call," which peaked in the Top 10 on the Billboard R&B singles chart.

Sherrick, real name F. Lamotte Smith, was a former member of Motown R&B group Kagny. His biggest claim to fame was being featured on the soundtrack to "The Last Dragon."

Sherrick, who was an alcoholic and drug abuser, died in 1999 of unknown causes.
 

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Jay Z’s nephew drops out of UW to pursue pro career after two rape allegations

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Jay Z's nephew Nahziah Carter will pursue a pro basketball career following his suspension from the Washington Huskies men's basketball team after two students accused him of rape.

"I don't take these allegations lightly," Huskies men's coach Mike Hopkins said after speaking with his star athlete last Wednesday.

Carter was accused of sexual misconduct by two students, but he was suspended only after the 2nd student came forward. He was never charged.

The two students reported Carter to UW's Title IX office in early October. On Oct. 15, the Huskies announced Carter was suspended form all team activities for violating the school's intercollegiate athletics student code.

At the time, Hopkins said: "Hopefully he can come back. If not, it will be a huge loss for us."

After two unsuccessful appeals, Carter's suspension was finalized on December 2. Two days later, he announced he was leaving school to pursue a professional basketball career, according to the Seattle Times.

"It wouldn't be appropriate for me or somebody in my position to be talking about an university issue," Hopkins said. "There is a process and we had to let the process play out."

He continued: "As the leader of this program, I hold myself and our student-athletes to the highest standards on and off the court, and we hold ourselves to those standards. For that reason, Naz is no longer a part of this program."

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Rap mogul Jay Z, 51, was a father figure to his sister's sons. He often rapped about them in his songs. His nephew, Colleek D. Luckie, died in a car accident while driving a Chrysler 300, a graduation present from Jay Z. The aging rapper blamed himself for his nephew's death.

In his track "Sweet," Jay Z raps:

"And still there's pain/ If I would have grew up to be a doctor, my nephew would have grew up to do the same/ But since I grew up through the game, and my influence is the same/ And my therapy is music, they ask if you ashamed."

Carter, a 6-foot-6 senior guard who averaged 12.2 points and 4.9 rebounds last season, is expected to play overseas in Australia.

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Federal Judge Rules President Trump Can Be Sued for Defamation In Decades Old Rape Allegation

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A federal judge rejected a Justice Department motion to dismiss a defamation lawsuit brought against President Donald Trump by a woman who accused him of rape decades ago.

The federal judge concluded that the president's denials and statements about the case were outside of his official duties.

Writer E. Jean Carroll wrote a book in 2019 claiming Trump raped her during an encounter at a New York department store in the 1990s.

After the publication of Carroll's book, Trump told reporters she made the story up. Carroll then sued Trump for defamation.

The DOJ filed a motion to dismiss the federal lawsuit, saying Trump's denial of the allegation was part of his official duties as president.

The DOJ said Trump was protected because of immunity extended for libel and slander cases under the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA).

In a ruling on Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Lewis A. Kaplan rejected the DOJ's claim, writing that the president is not an employee of the government within the meaning of the FTCA, and that even if he were, his statements concerning Carroll were outside the scope of that employment.

Kaplan wrote that Trump's comments "concerned an alleged sexual assault that took place several decades before he took office, and the allegations have no relationship to the official business of the United States..."

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Lawyer for Migos rapper Takeoff says rape allegations ‘provably false’

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An attorney for Migos star Takeoff dismissed allegations of forcible rape as "patently and provably false".

The "MotorSport" rapper, real name Kirshnik Khari Ball, made headlines on Wednesday after he was slapped with legal action from an unidentified plaintiff.

The woman claims the 26-year-old Georgia native forced himself on her during a private house party in Los Angeles in June. The private party was hosted by Daryl 'Durel' McPherson, an occasional DJ for Migos.

After the alleged rape, the woman drove herself to a nearby hospital for a rape kit. Medical staff observed physical evidence of forceful rape and notified Los Angeles Police Department officials.

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The woman is suing for sexual battery, assault, and emotional distress, but Takeoff's lawyer is confident he will be able to clear his client's name in court.

His attorney, Drew Findling, tells TMZ, "We have reviewed the allegations and have similarly done our own due diligence.

"What has become abundantly clear is that the allegations made against Takeoff are patently and provably false. The claims and statements made regarding this lawsuit indicate that the plaintiff's representatives have not spoken with relevant witnesses or reviewed available evidence."

Findling said Takeoff, who is in a longterm relationship with LaKeya Darshay, does not have a rapey personality.

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"Takeoff is renowned for his artistic talent as well as his quiet, reserved and peaceful personality," Findling continues. "In this instance, those known personality traits have made him a target of an obvious exploitative money grab."

"As his counsel, we are well aware and well versed on the importance of civil and criminal prosecution of true sexual assaults. This is not one of those situations."

The alleged incident remains under investigation by the LAPD, but the plaintiff's lawyer, Neama Rahmani, is unhappy with the lack of progress in the case.

"Justice has been slow in this particular case," Rahmani tells Billboard.com. "It is a month and a half since the rape and no arrests have been made."

LAPD investigators are notorious for dragging their feet while investigating crimes involving celebrities.

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Bill Cosby wins right to appeal sexual assault conviction

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Bill Cosby won the right to appeal his 2018 sexual assault conviction on the grounds that the comedian didn't receive a fair trial.

It isn't clear if Cosby will be freed on bond while his case is on appeal.

The 82-year-old is currently serving a 3 to 10-year sentence after a jury found him guilty of drugging and assaulting Andrea Constand during a second trial in 2004. The jury in the first case deadlocked.

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court will review whether prosecutors were allowed to call five additional female accusers to testify against Cosby. And whether evidence was introduced that Cosby gave women quaaludes in the past.

According to Page Six, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court will also examine whether a prosecutor told Cosby he would never face criminal charges in Constand's case after she accepted a large settlement payment from him.

Cosby's previous request to be released from prison due to the coronavirus pandemic was denied.

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Ansel Elgort, 26, denies claims he raped girl, 17; ‘We had a brief, legal, consensual relationship’

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Ansel Elgort denies sexually assaulting a 17-year-old girl after a Twitter user said the 'Baby Driver' actor took advantage of her when she was young and impressionable.

In an emotional message on Twitter.com on Friday, a woman named "Gabby" said she was "sobbing in pain" during the alleged assault when she was a teenager.

She said she began communicating with Elgort on Snapchat in 2014 when she was 16. The actor soon made arrangements to meet the starstruck teenager offline.

But the teenager's dream of meeting her celebrity crush turned into a nightmare when he allegedly sexually assaulted her.

"He made me think this is how sex was supposed to be," the woman said in her post. She said she told him she was a virgin, and that she was in pain, but he was unsympathetic.

"Instead of asking me if I wanted to stop having sex knowing it was my first time and I was sobbing in pain and I didn't want to do it the only words that came out of his mouth were 'we need to break you in.' I WASNT there in that moment mentally," she wrote.

"I disassociated myself and just felt like my mind was gone I was in shock I couldn't leave I was only 5'2 and 98 pounds. He made me think this is how sex was supposed to be."

As her since-deleted post began trending on Twitter, Elgort sought advice from associates and friends to mitigate the damage.

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Rather than let a professional handle the damage control, he decided to tackle the job himself by posting a public apology on Instagram.

"I was distressed to see the social media post about me that have been circulating in the past 24 hours," he told his 10 million followers on Saturday.

"I cannot claim to understand Gabby's feelings but her description of events is simply not what happened. I have never and would never assault anyone."

Elgort admitted having a relationship with the girl when she was a minor, but he described their relationship as "brief, legal and entirely consensual".

He suggested the woman revealed their intimate relationship now because he cut her off and stopped responding to her messages.

"I know this belated apology does not absolve me of my unacceptable behavior when I disappeared," he wrote. "As I look back at my attitude, I am disgusted and deeply ashamed of the way I acted. I am truly sorry. I know I must continue to reflect, learn, and work to grow in empathy."
 

Elgort's post sparked angry responses on social media.

"Of course you’re claiming it was legal and consensual. Classic move trying to make the girl sound like she accused you because you dumped her," wrote one user.

Another user wrote: "if she's 17 that's not consentual or legal [sic]. take the L and go to jail!"

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Danny Masterson Finally Arrested On Rape Charges

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2 years after "That '70s Show" star Danny Masterson was ousted from Netflix's "The Ranch" amid sexual assault allegations, the actor was finally arrested on rape charges.

The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office charged Masterson with rape in three separate cases on Wednesday, after four women came forward to accuse him of rape in March 2017.

Masterson, a 44-year-old Scientologist, is accused of raping a 23-year-old woman in 2001, and a 28-year-old woman in 2003. Another 23-year-old woman alleged Masterson raped her after he invited her to his Hollywood Hills home in 2003, according to the Los Angeles prosecutor's office.

Actress Leah Remini was not surprised at the news of his arrest. The former Scientologist said she was relieved that Masterson was finally charged.

"Finally, victims are being heard when it comes to Scientology!" Remini tweeted shortly on Wednesday. "Praise the lord! This is just the beginning Scientology, your days of getting away with it is coming to an end!"

Masterson, who is married, faces a maximum sentence of 45 years to life in prison if convicted on all charges.

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NH State Representative Resigns After Posting Graphic Tweet About Biden Accuser’s Vagina

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A former New Hampshire state Rep. and Joe Biden supporter was forced to resign after posting a graphic tweet questioning the position of the female vagina.

Richard Komi, a Democrat, sparked outrage on Twitter when he questioned Tara Reade's sexual misconduct allegations against Biden, the presumptive Democratic nominee.

Komi doubted Reade's allegations because, he says it would not be easy for Biden to insert his finger in Reade's vagina without her cooperation.

"Judging by the position of the female vagina, it will not be easy for anyone to just put their finger into the vagina unless their [sic] is some Cooperation [sic] from the female herself. That is why I believe Tara Reade’s allegations is [sic] false. She is looking for attention."

Komi deleted the tweet when outraged Twitter users questioned his professionalism and his knowledge of the female anatomy.

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The backlash was swift. Komi was forced to apologize publicly to all sexual assault survivors.

"I wish I had worded my words more appropriately. It was not intended to lessen the pain that sexual assault survivors face all their lives," Komi told Manchester Ink Link on Friday.

"I do not believe Joe (Biden) is the type of person who would do anything to hurt a woman," he added.

"Representative Komi's comment is wrong, inappropriate, and offensive to all Democrats, and does not reflect the values of our party," New Hampshire Democratic Party Chairman Ray Buckley said, Manchester Ink Link reported.

Komi was the first African refugee to be elected to the New Hampshire State House. He fled persecution in Nigeria after he was targeted by the government.