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 The decision ended a nearly 10-week investigation of the
eight-year National Football League veteran by San Jose, California,
detectives and prosecutors.
"After our thorough review of all the facts, we do not have evidence
sufficient to convince a jury beyond a reasonable doubt that Mr.
McDonald committed a crime," District Attorney Jeff Rosen said in a
statement.
Both the 49ers and the NFL declined to suspend McDonald during the
police investigation into the Aug. 31 incident, deciding to let the
legal process play out. The incident occurred while McDonald was
celebrating his 30th birthday at his home with teammates and
friends.
"I appreciate the seriousness of the situation and I understand and
respect that law enforcement had a job to do, which is why I
cooperated fully with their investigation from beginning to end,"
McDonald said in a statement.
 "I am relieved that the DA's office has rightfully decided not to
file charges."
Conflicting accounts of the incident, the lack of "verifiable"
eyewitnesses and the "seemingly minor nature" of the injuries led to
the decision not to file charges, Rosen said.
"We have said from the beginning that we will consider the
information available, allow the facts to lead to our decisions and
respect the judicial process," the 49ers said in a statement.
"Based on the information available to us and the District
Attorney’s decision not to file charges, there will be no change in
Ray's status with the team."
[to top of second column] |
The NFL has come under fire in recent months over a perception it
deals too lightly with players accused of domestic violence. The
league has since strengthened its policies in dealing with such
cases.
Ray Rice was cut by the Baltimore Ravens and suspended indefinitely
by the NFL after video emerged of him punching his then-fiancée in
an Atlantic City casino hotel elevator.
Former NFL Most Valuable Player Adrian Peterson pleaded no contest
last week to a misdemeanor charge of reckless assault for hitting
his 4-year-old son with a tree branch.
The Rice case is being reviewed by an independent arbitrator, while
the league is deciding whether to allow Peterson to return to the
Minnesota Vikings.
(Reporting by Steve Ginsburg in Washington; Editing by Jim Loney and
Peter Cooney)
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