Brian Banks, falsely accused of rape by Wanetta Gibson
Brian Banks celebrates with his mama. Photo from LaTimes |
A comment posted below led me to Brian's website http://brianbanks.org/the-incident/ . There, I read the story from his perspective. According to him, he and Wanetta Gibson never had sexual intercourse. They merely fooled around. At the time he was sixteen years old, which makes his incarceration even more atrocious.
You can continue reading the original post I made below.
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He was only 17 years old in 2002, and a hot commodity on the football field. One day he links up with a classmate, and they have sex. When the girl's mother finds out, Brian Banks is arrested and charged with rape and kidnapping.
He faced 41 years in prison. His attorney advised him to plead no contest to serve less than a quarter of that time. Brian Banks relents. Meanwhile the girl, Wanetta Gibson, continues to keep up the charade. Her mother eventually sues the Long Beach County school system, winning an award of 1.5 million dollars.
Low and behold, Brian is out of prison, but being monitored and registered as sex offender. In steps the California Western School of Law Innocence Project. They find evidence to get the conviction overturned.
Not only that, but Wanetta contacts Brian on Facebook, apologizing and admitting her lie. Now to put the icing on the cake...she does not want to come all the way forward, because she does not want to lose all the money the school district had to pay.
What kind of mess is this? I don't know what the age difference was between Brian and Wanetta... in some states, whether she consented or not, he would still be guilty of statutory rape. In this situation in California, that may not be the case.
However, no rape or kidnapping occurred. I just don't understand how an attorney can tell someone to plead to an offense they did not commit. Of course I am an attorney, but I do not practice criminal law, so I cannot really give a professional opinion on that. It just disturbs me. Further, with all he men and women who deal with actual sexual abuse, how could someone make up a story like this and live with herself? Huh, Wanetta? How could you do that?
What do you think should happen now? Brian is out of prison and his conviction is overturned. Should Wanetta pay the money back? Should she face prosecution?
Sources: LATimes.com and Myfox8.com
Comments
I also feel that money should be paid back and additional sums be given to Mr. Banks.
http://www.columbian.com/news/2011/apr/03/innocence-project-northrop-freed-rape-prison/
http://www.kwtx.com/home/headlines/Students_Raise_Money_For_Speaking_Fee_That_Texas_School_Wouldnt_Pay_121157494.html