Mr. Laz
04-04-2006, 12:23 PM
LOVE BOAT CASE AGAINST CULPEPPER THROWN OVERBOARD
A Minnesota judge has pitched the criminal charges pending against former Vikings quarterback Daunte Culpepper. Culpepper had been facing three misdemeanor counts arising from his alleged cavorting with a stripper on a boat last October.
Per KARE-TV and the AP, the judge ruled that there was no probable cause to believe that Culpepper had committed a crime. Culpepper's lawyers also had moved to dismiss the charges based on allegations of racial bias, since two white men who admitted to engaging in the same behavior for which Culpepper was charged had faced no scrutiny. Today's ruling apparently does not address that issue. Running back Moe Williams has offered up a similar argument, and the charges against him are still pending.
Also charged are cornerback Fred Smoot and tackle Bryant McKinnie, who based on the criminal complaints allegedly engaged in far more, ahem, colorful conduct that Culpepper and Williams. Their cases are also unaffected by the ruling.
Culpepper recently testified that he was shooting craps on the cruise, and that he declined the opportunity to receive a lap dance. It remains to be seen whether he'll now face scrutiny for admitting to engaging in illegal gambling.
The Vikings traded Culpepper to Miami last month for a second-round pick in the April 29 draft.
A Minnesota judge has pitched the criminal charges pending against former Vikings quarterback Daunte Culpepper. Culpepper had been facing three misdemeanor counts arising from his alleged cavorting with a stripper on a boat last October.
Per KARE-TV and the AP, the judge ruled that there was no probable cause to believe that Culpepper had committed a crime. Culpepper's lawyers also had moved to dismiss the charges based on allegations of racial bias, since two white men who admitted to engaging in the same behavior for which Culpepper was charged had faced no scrutiny. Today's ruling apparently does not address that issue. Running back Moe Williams has offered up a similar argument, and the charges against him are still pending.
Also charged are cornerback Fred Smoot and tackle Bryant McKinnie, who based on the criminal complaints allegedly engaged in far more, ahem, colorful conduct that Culpepper and Williams. Their cases are also unaffected by the ruling.
Culpepper recently testified that he was shooting craps on the cruise, and that he declined the opportunity to receive a lap dance. It remains to be seen whether he'll now face scrutiny for admitting to engaging in illegal gambling.
The Vikings traded Culpepper to Miami last month for a second-round pick in the April 29 draft.