MARCUS DIXON

'Marcus Dixon' is an African-American high school student who was convicted in May 2003 for the rape of Kristie Brown, an underage girl. These charges were later overturned and dropped to statutory rape.

Contents

Schooling and football career

Court case, charges and conviction

Charges

Racial tension

Overturned conviction and release

Other alleged events

Post release

References

Schooling and football career

Dixon was a grade A student at Pepperell High School and excelled on the football field to the point where he had been offered a full scholarship at Vanderbilt University.

Court case, charges and conviction

Kristie Brown alleged that on February 10, 2003 Dixon forced her to have sex, taking her virginity. She also claimed that contrary to popular belief she was not Dixon's girlfriend and although they shared classes at college they barely knew each other.

Charges

The jury acquitted Dixon of rape, battery, assualt and false imprisonment but because Brown was only 15 3/4 at the time of the incident found him guilty of statutory rape and aggravated child molestation. Because of this Dixon was convicted at the mandatory amount under Georgia law, 10 years imprisonment.^[1] Ironically if he would have been found guilty he would have faced a much less severe punishment.^[2]

Racial tension

Many saw the case as racially motivated, especially when it was alleged that Brown had claimed her father "would kill them both" if he found out because he was a racist. The President of the Children's Defence Fund, Marian Wright Edelman called it a "Legal Lynching". Also, the location of the incident, Georgia, spurred on the thoughts of racist bigotry. ^[2]

Overturned conviction and release

Georgia Supreme Court overturned Dixon's conviction and he was released May 03, 2004. They let his conviction of misdemeanor statutory rape stand.^[4]

Other alleged events

During the courtcase the prosecution brought up Dixon's past record, stating that he had been suspeded twice from his school for 'sexual activity'. Although neither of these events were reported to the authorities the jury were told that the events were Dixon exposing himself in a classroom and inappropriately touching a 14 year old girl.^[5]

Post release

After Dixon's release both he and Brown appeared on Oprah in an attempt to clarify their stories.^[6]
Dixon recently enrolled at Hampton University in Virginia with a football scholarship.^[7]

References

1. http://www.oprah.com/tows/pastshows/200402/tows_past_20040226_b.jhtml
2. http://www.pww.org/article/view/4730/1/201/
3. http://www.pww.org/article/view/4730/1/201/
4. http://www.11alive.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=46395
5. http://www.snopes.com/politics/crime/dixon.asp
6. http://www.oprah.com/tows/pastshows/200402/tows_past_20040226.jhtml
7. http://www.speakinoutnews.info/072507_Marcusdixon.html