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And then there's Eric Frimpong
We first encountered this sad saga a year and a half ago when veteran BigSoccer maven Matrim55 POSTED THIS PIECE about the rape prosecution of former UCSB midfielder and 2007 Kansas City draftee Eric Frimpong, a native of Ghana.
The alleged victim, known only as Jane Doe, was a freshman at UC Santa Barbara in 2006 when the Gauchos won the NCAA Championship due in large part to Frimpong's contributions.
Doe is (or was at the time) a girl with serious alcohol issues and a known history of blackouts who presented at a hospital with a BAC of between .20 and .29, claiming that she had been raped by Eric Frimpong.
As we all know .08 is considered legally intoxicated for most purposes and, just for clarity's sake, .35 is considered medically anesthetized to the point where surgery can be performed.
The medical examination showed absolutely no trace of Frimpong's DNA anywhere in or on Jane Doe or her clothing and, despite her claim of a fiercely violent sexual assault and struggle on the beach (she claims she hit him so hard that her "knuckles were messed up") there were no cuts, bruises or abrasions anywhere on Frimpong's body.
The police, in a manner frighteningly reminiscent of the Duke lacrosse case, helpfully suggested details about the rape which she herself only later "recalled" (due, she admits, to not remembering much of anything about the entire incident).
For her part, Doe's story changed - and continued to change (again reminiscent of the Duke case) - every time she told it.
The police immediately proceeded to arrest and charge Frimpong without even a cursory examination of any other possible perpetrator, including Doe's sometime lover, whose DNA was, in fact, found in her underwear and who was, in fact, known to be in the vicinity at the time of the assault.
In the wake of the Nate Jaqua accusations, the ever-vigilent IVES GALARCEP yesterday linked to a brilliant story BY SAM ALIPOUR AT ESPN which I urge you to go read.
Eric Frimpong now sits in the California Correctional Institute in Tehachapi, serving a six year sentence for rape, convicted by an all-white jury which was not allowed to see or hear from various suppressed witnesses who contradicted the story the police wanted told.
(If you have a particularly strong stomach, you should definitely check out THIS PIECE which describes how using the occasion of Martin Luther King Day to publicize the judicial lynching of a young black man is in poor taste. There are some incredibly stupid people running around.)
Bottom line, there's enough prosecutorial misconduct, police malfeasance and judicial bias here to cause any fair minded person to wonder whether, in fact, the prosecutor and law enforcement so badly wanted a win in what they themselves told people was a "high profile case" involving a "sports star" - not to mention a black kid accused of rape - that it begins to appear that Frimpong didn't receive anything like a fair trial.
The Duke lacrosse players were from extremely wealthy families who hired the very best representation that money can buy, and it appears that Nate jaqua has found a distinguished white-shoe lawyer who ought to be able to present a seriously competent defense.
But Frimpong, who woke up this morning in prison - and is reportedly being taunted by police and corrections officers, largely because he's a soccer playing black kid - is represented by a court-appointed appeals attorney who faces a long, hard fight to get this case reviewed.
Frimpong's mother makes $60 a month and lives in a mud hut.
I'm figuring Jaqua will get justice in the end. I'm not worried about it either way.
Eric Frimpong, on the other hand, needs people to stand up for him.
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Good God. I thought the 60s were over.Posted 04 Jul 2009 at 10:53 AM by Wolfbeatseagle 
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frimpong
Thanks for supporting Eric's cause, but just to clarify a mistake everyone seems to be making about this story; Jane Doe is not a white girl.
Many thanks for the correction. That does indeed appear in a number of places, and you're the first one I've seen who corrected it. I fixed it in the post in the interests of not unnecessarily complicating the story. Thanks again. - BAPosted 04 Jul 2009 at 10:55 AM by USAClash
Updated 04 Jul 2009 at 11:30 AM by Bill Archer -
this is prolly worse then the duke case and it sucks that something like this could happen in a country like ours....and it's not like were talking pre 2000's either. it's sickening that if i wasnt white and someone just wanted to accuse me of raping a white girl theirs a great chance im going to jail...but thanks for making it known.
i consider myself a pretty big sports fan with a good amount of sports knowledge but yet never have heard anything bout this...thank youPosted 04 Jul 2009 at 10:55 AM by reddevils_7
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It's also worth noting that while Frimpong isn't from a wealthy family like the Duke kids, he had great support from members of the affluent SB community. His attorney wasn't some court appointed nobody, but a highly respected member of Michael Jackson's defense team. Somehow his attorney did a pisspoor job on his case though.
Posted 04 Jul 2009 at 11:01 AM by USAClash
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The punishement for a female of this variety (false accusation of rape) should be she can only go out in pubic if she covers herself from head to toe sharia law styled burka. Now there's a practical application of radical islam.
Now I probably offended some people who would have agreed with me. But honestly, I've been giveing thought to our American mores lately and maybe if there is something useful the muslims can contribute to the American psyche it is a little more modesty in the way our women dress. I can just picture this one. Dressed like a prostitute and then using that fact to falsely accuse this fellow. He called what she is which set her off to get revenge. Nobody deserves to get raped. That includes an innocent man sitting in American jailm by the way. OMG this is making me furious on the 4th of July morning.Posted 04 Jul 2009 at 11:22 AM by Oceans of time
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"Thanks for supporting Eric's cause, but just to clarify a mistake everyone seems to be making about this story; Jane Doe is not a white girl."
Well then how in the heck do we spin this off as a grave injustice in the legal system based on racism. It couldn't be as simple as the attorney who represented Mr Frimpong did a inadequate job in proving his client innocent.. nah, couldn't be..Posted 04 Jul 2009 at 11:30 AM by LJinkins
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Umm...I didn't get the impression that she wasn't raped, but that possibly the wrong person was identified as the assailant. However, charming people like you should remind everyone why it's really necessary to be careful while talking about these stories...and why, even now, it's necessary to call victims of sexual assault "Jane Doe" for their continued protection.Quote:Originally Posted by Oceans of time
The punishement for a female of this variety (false accusation of rape) should be she can only go out in pubic if she covers herself from head to toe sharia law styled burka. Now there's a practical application of radical islam.
Now I probably offended some people who would have agreed with me. But honestly, I've been giveing thought to our American mores lately and maybe if there is something useful the muslims can contribute to the American psyche it is a little more modesty in the way our women dress. I can just picture this one. Dressed like a prostitute and then using that fact to falsely accuse this fellow. He called what she is which set her off to get revenge. Nobody deserves to get raped. That includes an innocent man sitting in American jailm by the way. OMG this is making me furious on the 4th of July morning.
Sad.Posted 04 Jul 2009 at 11:46 AM by lynne
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Don't assume that because the prostitute isn't white that doesn't make it a hate crime. Minorities resent the african immigrant because they are confident, itelligent, 2nd highest educated as a group actually and generally stick to their principles and don't take crap from no one. In short the race hustlers like revs al and jesse and wright probably look at the American-Africans (that's a good name for recent arrivals from Africa right? that is not offensive and distingusishes them from African-Americans; kind of like the Scott's Irish and the German's Irish distinction OF 150 years ago, I digress even when in distress) and say YOU'RE RUINING IT FOR US!!!
Posted 04 Jul 2009 at 11:52 AM by Oceans of time
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This is why I didn't go to UC Santa Barbara. The school is overrun with wealthy (read: not responsible), careless morons. And the police are famous for douchebagery-like behvior.
Edit: This is based off extensive personal experience, for all you Marys out there. Including USAClash, you sensitive maxi pad you.Posted 04 Jul 2009 at 11:59 AM by Mike Gray 
Updated 05 Jul 2009 at 02:39 PM by Mike Gray -
We got it from your Mom.
Posted 04 Jul 2009 at 12:09 PM by USAClash
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