3 men cleared of rape charges involving Athens student

Three men were cleared of rape charges, but they each still face a child molestation charge.

Three men were cleared of rape charges, but they each still face a child molestation charge.

Three men have been cleared of rape allegations involving an Athens high school student, Clarke County superior court officials confirmed Monday.

Markell Dereek Brannon, Xavier Marquise Clarke and Jaivious Malik Collins are no longer facing charges after a grand jury determined there was not enough evidence for them to stand trial, Western Judicial Circuit District Attorney Ken Mauldin told Channel 2 Action News.

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“Based on new evidence and further information and review, the case was presented again to the grand jury who determined that there was not sufficient evidence for the defendants to stand trial on those particular charges,” Mauldin said.

They were accused of holding a Cedar Shoals High School student against her will and raping her in January 2016, according to the indictment.

Brannon, Clarke and Collins were still indicted on a child molestation charge, a misdemeanor.

The men, who were students at the time of the allegations, were also cleared of false imprisonment, conspiracy to commit rape, criminal attempt to commit aggravated sodomy, influencing a witness and tampering with evidence.

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