With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Star High School Football Player Exonerated of Rape After Spending 5 Years in Prison
Brian Banks was a high school football star with big dreams of going to play for USC and maybe even the NFL. But at age 16 one of his classmates at Long Beach Poly High School falsely accused him of kidnapping and raping her—an accusation that derailed his life for a decade, according to a story in the Los Angeles Times.
There was no evidence and no witnesses in the case—it was his own word against hers. Banks' attorney advised him that in this sort of case the odds were stacked against him. Banks told TODAY that this is what he said his lawyer told him:
"You can go into that courtroom in front of a jury. You're a big black teenager, they're going to automatically assume you're guilty and you'll be facing 41 years to life. What do you want to do?"
He took the plea deal and served out his five years in prison. He had to register as a sex offender and wear an ankle bracelet when he finally got out.But recently his accuser Wanetta Gibson friended him on Facebook and agreed to meet up with him and a private investigator. She seemed to feel bad that she had killed his shot at having a career in football, and she admitted on tape that she made the whole thing up (and TODAY has the video here). With that evidence, the Innocence Project took on his case and found even more evidence to back up his claims of innocence. He was fully exonerated in the case this Thursday at age 26—ten years after the initial accusation.
Support for LAist comes from
Gibson sued her high school and won a $750,000 claim at the time. But experts told the Times it's likely that she won't have to pay it back, since she has since recanted making a false accusation—and because she doesn't have the money to give back. It's not clear if she'll face any consequences. Banks isn't suing her but he is suing the state for the time he spent in prison. He's asking for $100 each day he spent wrongfully incarcerated.
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
The Palisades Fire erupted on Jan. 7 and went on to kill 12 people and destroy more than 6,800 homes and buildings. -
People moving to Los Angeles are regularly baffled by the region’s refrigerator-less apartments. They’ll soon be a thing of the past. -
Experts say students shouldn't readily forgo federal aid. But a California-only program may be a good alternative in some cases. -
Distrito Catorce’s Guillermo Piñon says the team no longer reflects his community. A new mural will honor local leaders instead. -
The program is for customers in communities that may not be able to afford turf removal or water-saving upgrades. -
More than half of sales through September have been to corporate developers. Grassroots community efforts continue to work to combat the trend.
Best of LAist