An offensive lineman for the Philadelphia Eagles, Joshua Sills, has been acquitted of rape and kidnapping charges by a jury in Guernsey County, Ohio. The 25-year-old lineman was indicted in February on first-degree felony counts of kidnapping and rape, stemming from an incident in December 2019. Prosecutors alleged that Sills engaged in non-consensual sexual activity and held a victim against her will.
After a trial that began on Tuesday, the jury reached a verdict of not guilty. The case was presented by prosecutors from the Ohio Attorney General’s Office. In the courtroom, Sills expressed gratitude to the jury for their role in the trial.
Michael Connick, a lawyer for Sills, stated that the acquittal marked the end of a “four-year nightmare for the Sills family.” Despite the acquittal, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost maintained his belief in the victim. However, he acknowledged that criminal convictions require proof beyond a reasonable doubt and expressed gratitude to the jury for fulfilling their duty under the law.
During the trial, Brooke Bing, a friend of the woman who accused Sills, testified, recounting an incident at a bar where Sills was present. Bing stated that the woman claimed Sills had raped her and showed her marks where he had restrained her.
Following the indictment in February, Sills received a summons to appear in court on February 16th, shortly after the Philadelphia Eagles’ scheduled Super Bowl LVII game against the Kansas City Chiefs. Sills joined the Eagles in 2022 as an undrafted free agent but is currently on the NFL commissioner’s exempt list, preventing him from playing with the team.
It remains uncertain if Sills will return to play for the Philadelphia Eagles after his acquittal. The team’s front office has not yet provided a comment on the matter. Sills, an offensive guard, made a brief appearance in one game on special teams for the Eagles in 2022. He began his college football career at West Virginia University before transferring to Oklahoma State University.
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