Roethlisberger investigation continues; QB's lawyers don't expect sexual assault charges

By Rhonda Cook and Christian Boone

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Milledgeville police say they expect to interview Ben Roethlisberger within the next "two to three days" regarding a sexual assault allegation, though the quarterback's attorney doesn't expect any charges will be filed.

"[Roethlisberger attorney Ed Garland] advised us this morning that he is in the process of making arrangements for us to interview Mr. Roethlisberger and all of the individuals that were present with him when the alleged incident occurred," Milledgeville Police Chief Woodrow Blue said in an afternoon press conference.

Ocmulgee Judicial Circuit District Attorney Frederic D. Bright said he plans eight more interviews before deciding whether to file charges. A 20-year-old Georgia College & State University sophomore reported that she was "sexually assaulted or sexually manipulated" by a man she described as 6-foot-5 and 241 pounds. Blue said she has identified Roethlisberger as her attacker. The pair were seen at “multiple establishments” in Milledgeville late Thursday, according to police.

"The investigation is ongoing," Bright said in a statement. "It would be premature to make any announcement at this time."

Garland said he was confident his client will be exonerated.

"The facts show that there was no criminal activity," the veteran defense attorney told the AJC. "No sexual assault occurred. Ben is completely innocent of any crime. The truth of the events should cause this investigation to end without a criminal charge. I will not go into detail at this time, but will in the future."

Police interviewed Roethlisberger, 28, on Friday and allowed him to leave the state. Over the weekend he hired Garland and Don Samuel to represent him.

Samuel, Garland and their firm have represented several high-profile sports stars and entertainers in criminal cases.

In 2000,  Garland and Samuel represented Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis, who was charged with murder in a Buckhead street fight following the Super Bowl. In mid-trial, on June 5, 2000, Fulton County prosecutors dropped the murder charges against Lewis, allowing him to plead guilty to a misdemeanor charge.

Just weeks after the Ray Lewis case ended, Garland and Samuel were retained by another Baltimore Raven, Atlanta native Jamal Lewis, who was accused of a federal drug conspiracy. The All-Pro running back pleaded guilty four years later to a misdemeanor (using a cellphone to make a drug transaction) and was sentenced to four months in a minimum-security prison, which was served in the off-season.

Another Garland-Samuel client, former Atlanta Thrasher Dany Heatley, was charged with vehicular homicide in 2003 but pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor in the car crash that killed teammate Dan Snyder. They also represented rapper T.I. on gun charges.

Roethlisberger, meanwhile, is being sued by a Reno woman, Andrea McNulty, who claims the QB sexually assaulted her in 2008. The two-time Super Bowl winner denied the allegation, saying "I would never, ever force myself on a woman" during a July 2009 press conference.

The Georgia College & State University sophomore who has accused Roethlisberger of sexually assaulting her apparently has dropped out of college and is at home with her family, according to a report on TMZ, which cites "multiple sources."

-- Staff writers Bill Rankin and Kristi Swartz contributed to this report.