Wife of former 49ers player Dana Stubblefield files for divorce after he’s charged with raping disabled woman
Wife of former 49ers player Dana Stubblefield files for divorce after he’s charged with raping disabled woman
The wife of former San Francisco 49ers star Dana Stubblefield has filed for divorce after her husband was charged with rape.
Terri Stubblefield filed papers in Santa Clara, California, on February 29, according to TMZ.
It came a week before investigators started interrogating the defensive lineman over claims he raped a developmentally-disabled woman.
Mr Stubblefield, 45, was charged on Monday with raping the woman during her interview for a babysitting job at the family’s home in Morgan Hill in April 2015.
The woman, who was then 31, traveled to Stubblefield’s home on April 9, 2015, to discuss looking after his children.
Investigators say she left after 20 minutes, but she returned when Stubblefield texted her that he wanted to pay for her time.
After raping her, investigators said, Stubblefield gave her $80 and let her go.
The woman immediately went to the Morgan Hill Police Department and reported the rape, prosecutors said.
But it was not until March 2016 that police began investigating.
‘This was a crime of violence against a vulnerable victim,’ deputy district attorney Tim McInerny said as Stubblefield was booked into jail on Monday.
‘She was looking for a job and she was unconscionably assaulted.’
DNA evidence matched that of Stubblefield, the police report said.
He faces five felony counts in connection to the rape and his bail is set at $250,000.
Stubblefield denied the charges Tuesday, saying the episode was a consensual encounter with a mentally competent woman who asked for money and a job afterward.
He spoke briefly at a news conference Tuesday in San Jose, saying he was ‘completely innocent’ and noting that he has financially supported the Special Olympics.
‘That is why these allegations hurt me so badly,’ Stubblefield said reading a prepared statement. ‘I will defend myself with all my strength.’
He declined to answer questions.
Stubblefield’s attorneys say the woman texted Stubblefield 18 times the day the two had sex and four more times in the days afterward.
Attorney Kenneth Rosenfeld said the woman asked for money on 10 of those occasions. He said Stubblefield gave the woman a ‘small amount’ of money to help her repair her car.
‘This is a money grab,’ Rosenfeld said.
Rosenfeld said the woman has been charged with several crimes including assault in the past, showing that the district attorney believed her mentally competent to appear in court.
Another attorney, Gary Winuk, also said the unidentified woman has filed two lawsuits where she represents herself and has a California’s driver’s license. ‘She had a clear capacity to make decisions,’ Winuk said.
Police arrested Stubblefield in front of his children’s school Monday after he dropped them off. He was released from jail late Monday on $250,000 bail.
Stubblefield’s attorneys said the former football player was told of the rape accusation about two months ago and say he has been ‘cooperating fully’ with investigators since.
‘We remain focused on the case. We will present evidence in a court of law, after which we expect Mr. Stubblefield will be held accountable for his crimes,’ Santa Clara County Deputy District Attorney Tim McInerny said in a prepared statement.
The district attorney’s office declined to provide further details on the woman’s mental health.
Stubblefield was the San Francisco 49ers’ first-round pick in 1993 after a standout career at the University of Kansas.
The three-time pro bowler also played for Washington and Oakland before retiring after the New England Patriots released him before the start of the 2004 season.
Stubblefield pleaded guilty in 2009 to lying to federal officials investigating a performance enhancing drugs ring catering to professional athletes.
He was sentenced to probation after cooperating with investigators. He was sentenced to 90 days in jail after pleading guilty to stealing his former girlfriend’s mail by submitting a fraudulent change of address for her to the U.S. Post Office.
