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Suspended Tennessee DB Michael Williams indicted, attorney says
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The attorney for suspended Tennessee defensive back Michael Williams says his client has been indicted, nearly three months after he was identified as a subject of a rape investigation.
David Eldridge said Thursday that Williams had turned himself in and was released on $40,000 bond.
"Michael Williams is innocent of these charges," Eldridge said in a statement. "He cooperated fully with the Knoxville Police Department's investigation and is disappointed in the decision to pursue criminal charges against him. He will vigorously defend these charges in court and is confident that when all the evidence is presented there, he will be exonerated."
Knoxville police named Williams and former Tennessee linebacker A.J. Johnson in November as subjects of a rape investigation. Knox County deputy district attorney Kyle Hixson said Tuesday the case would go before a grand jury.
Johnson's lawyer, Tom Dillard, didn't immediately respond to messages seeking an update on his client.
Both players were suspended from the team the day before police identified them as subjects of the investigation. Johnson has since graduated and completed his eligibility. Johnson had been on the list of players invited to the NFL Scouting Combine that takes place next week in Indianapolis.
The police report released in November said that Knoxville police investigator Tim Riddle spoke to two 19-year-old women on Nov. 16 at the University of Tennessee Medical Center at about 4:30 a.m. One woman said Johnson and Williams raped her at the apartment complex. A second woman said she was sexually assaulted by Williams at the same location.
The Associated Press does not identify people who say they are victims of sexual abuse.
Police spokesman Darrell DeBusk said at the time that the woman who said she was sexually assaulted had "decided not to prosecute at this time," but that the woman who said she was raped wanted to press charges.
