Jordan Johnson sits with members of his defense team at his trial in Missoula, Mont. (AP Photo)
In a nationally watched case followed minute-by-minute on Twitter, University of Montana quarterback Jordan Johnson was found not guilty of raping a woman he knew from the school last February.
A jury in Missoula deliberated for less than three hours before coming to the verdict.
Hundreds of Twitter posts have been made at the hashtag #johnsontrial, with some users admitting they were so riveted to the media feeds they weren’t getting any work done.
The accuser, who is also a student at the university, said that Johnson held her down, said “turn over or I’ll make you” and raped her on her bed, where they were watching a movie and began kissing. Johnson said the sex was consensual and his attorneys maintained the accuser became vengeful because he acted coldly to her afterward.
Johnson threw 21 touchdown passes in 2011 before being suspended in 2012 due to the charges. He has one season of eligibility remaining. He could be back in the fall if the university allows him to return, or he could transfer. His former head coach, Robin Pflugrad, is now offensive coordinator at Weber State after he was by fired by Montana a few days after speaking out in favor of Johnson.
The case played out against a background of federal and NCAA investigations of how the university has handled sexual assault allegations. Pflugrad and athletic director Jim O’Day were fired last March, days after Pflugrad called Johnson “a person of tremendous moral fiber.” One of Johnson’s Grizzly teammates, running back Beau Donaldson, last month was sentenced to 10 years in prison (plus 20 suspended) after pleading guilty to raping a longtime friend as she slept over at his home.
Here’s Johnson’s emotional reaction as the verdict is read:
For more info: The Missoulian has a collection of articles on the topic. The student newspaper Montana Kaimin is doing a thorough job of trial coverage.
Actually, it’s two days – the group touts March 1-2 as its holidays from digital living – and we can certainly note the irony of using the Internet to promote not using the Internet. And it’s smirkworthy that one of the days for unplugging is a Friday, when most people are still at work.
