Former Baylor University football player Sean Oakman was found not guilty on Thursday of sexual assault. Oakman was accused of sexually assaulting a graduate student at Baylor University in April of 2016. Oakman denied that sexual assault occurred and insisted that the encounter was indeed consensual. The Jury deliberated for about two hours and before deciding on the not guilty verdict.
The woman who accused Oakman stated that the two had a sexual relationship before the night of April 3rd. When they came back to his apartment from going to a local bar, she stated that Oakman would not allow her to leave and forced her to remove her clothing, sexually assaulting her twice. The woman gave testimony in court and stated that she now suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder. Oakman’s attorney took note of the lack of physical evidence in the case. According to the Waco-Tribune-Herald, officers had conflicting testimony as well as a nurse about the woman’s condition.
Oakman was slated to be a 1st round pick in the NFL before this indictment occurred back in April of 2016, two weeks before the NFL Draft. After the not guilty verdict was handed down, Oakman was seen walking out of the courtroom in tears. He gave a statement on the verdict. “But it never was about me. It was about everybody who was around me. They slandered my name, they fired my coach. I felt like all that was on me. I was a leader of Baylor, of Waco, of the community that I was in and they took us down from the top.”
Waco Tribune Herald
On Friday Oakman told KWTX-TV his plans. “I want to play football at the highest level and just really finally get my chance.” Oakman is now 26 and says that he is still in great shape and has been working out. While at Baylor University, Oakman was the school’s career leader in sacks.
Oakman’s case was the most well known in the Baylor University sexual assault scandal, which included one former Baylor University football player committing over 50 rapes in a span of four years, which people accused the administration at Baylor University of covering up. Head coach Art Briles lost his job as head coach of the football team along with Baylor’s president Ken Starr. Baylor University settled a federal lawsuit with one of the sexual assault victims.
Oakman, now vindicated, will look to put his life back on track and head to the NFL after going through the legal process.
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