Riders GM Tillman Charged with Sexual Assault

[cyclone3483]

I hope it isn't true, but I agree that timing (investigated since August) indicates some truth to it. I hope the girl is okay.

[Gozer]

Since no one else has said it, his sterling reputation in the community and his visibility make him a prime candidate for fraudulent blackmail.

Is "fraudulent blackmail" redundant? I mean, you can blackmail someone that's guilty, whats it called if you blackmail someone who's innocent?

[cyclone3483]

Originally Posted by Gozer

Since no one else has said it, his sterling reputation in the community and his visibility make him a prime candidate for fraudulent blackmail.

Is "fraudulent blackmail" redundant? I mean, you can blackmail someone that's guilty, whats it called if you blackmail someone who's innocent?

I think you had it right, fraudulent blackmail. Blackmail isn't fraudulent if you DO have the goods on someone. it is merely blackmail.

(there, all those episodes of finally Matlock paid off)

[CaptainCrunch]

If it was a blackmail scheme she probably wouldn't have gone to the cops three days after the alleged incident happened.

And this probably never would have gone to court.

[troutman]

http://www.riderville.ca/team/administration/

[octothorp]

Originally Posted by Yeah_Baby

Ok so here is my next question, and maybe some legal beagle could pm the answer if that would be better. What entirely falls under sexual assault?

My first thought was to answer this 'failure to yell surprise', but actually it's a good question.

My understanding is that there's no distinction in the Canadian criminal code between indescent contact and rape; both count as sexual assault. (There are also two additional forms of assault: causing bodily harm, and aggravated, none of which apply here.) So the fact that it's sexual assault really doesn't give us any clue about how far it went. The other question is about consent: if the girl was younger than 14, any contact would have been considered assault, as she had no ability to consent; but as a 16-year-old, it means that she did not want to, and that he did not obtain consent from her. So it doesn't necessarily mean that she said no, it could mean that he simply didn't ask (edit: and that she didn't want to). Given the age difference, it's extremely disturbing regardless.

[troutman]

riderfans is over-loaded.

Statement from Tillman:

http://www.leaderpost.com/news/State...392/story.html

“This is painful beyond words because of my profound respect for this franchise and for other people, whom I love dearly, and who have been adversely impacted by this initial news. From day one, though, I have told the absolute truth. I will continue to do so, and, having tremendous faith in the process. I, understandably, would love to say more, but, out of respect to other individuals, whom I also respect, and those privacy issues, I think it's best to let the story tell itself. And, it will. Again, in the meantime, I am just so sorry for the good people of Saskatchewan, who love this team and their province dearly. As a society, though, we believe in the presumption of innocence, and mine will absolutely be established."

[CaptainCrunch]

Any chance of this being a fair trial for the witness.

"Yes your honor we'd like a jury trial"

"Ok Jury how many of you lunatics are Rough Rider fans"

We saw it with the first OJ trail, we'll see it again here.

[I-Hate-Hulse]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

Any chance of this being a fair trial for the witness.

"Yes your honor we'd like a jury trial"

"Ok Jury how many of you lunatics are Rough Rider fans"

We saw it with the first OJ trail, we'll see it again here.

Simple. Have the trial in Toronto. No one cares about the CFL there.

[VladtheImpaler]

Originally Posted by Yeah_Baby

Ok so here is my next question, and maybe some legal beagle could pm the answer if that would be better. What entirely falls under sexual assault?

Unwanted touching of a sexual nature. To put it in simple and crude terms, if you come up to a girl at a bus stop and pinch her nose, it's assault. If you pinch her nipple, it's sexual assault. However, as mentioned this can be anything from grabbing this girl's butt at a team function to trying to have sex with the babysitter. I guess we'll see what comes out.

[Shazam]

From Fark.com:

There once was a coach from Regina,
Who had a thing for teenage vagina;
He indulged in his vice,
And though 'That was nice'
But now has a seat over there.

[Yeah_Baby]

Dude, no.

[killer_carlson]

Originally Posted by VladtheImpaler

Unwanted touching of a sexual nature. To put it in simple and crude terms, if you come up to a girl at a bus stop and pinch her nose, it's assault. If you pinch her nipple, it's sexual assault. However, as mentioned this can be anything from grabbing this girl's butt at a team function to trying to have sex with the babysitter. I guess we'll see what comes out.

well, my recollection is that the sexual nature is considered and interpreted from the eyes of the victim. If the girl at the bus stop thought that when you pinched her nose that you were doing it in a sexual fashion (like a fetish) then that would constitute sexual assault.

The key here in the charge is that it is not aggrivated, meaning he allegedly did not do anything forceably.

[octothorp]

I think that in Canadian law, aggravated sexual assault refers not to whether force is used, but whether the victim is seriously physically harmed or their life is endangered. For example, in the other Riders sexual assault case, he had exposed the victims to HIV, endangering their lives, which made it aggravated sexual assault, even though no force had been used (and the sex had actually been consentual). I think that they logic behind this is to keep it much more quantifiable: any sexual act can qualify for sexual assault. If it causes physical injuries, it's sexual assault causing bodily harm. If it causes serious or permanent injuries or endangers the life of the victim, it's aggravated sexual assault. So the fact that it was not aggravated (or causing bodily harm) doesn't rule out the possibility that force was involved, just that no injuries resulted.

[Bobblehead]

I think it is sad that there is another recent Rider sexual assault case that you can use for reference.

[VladtheImpaler]

Bump. FAN reporting he will plead GUILTY this morning.

[CaptainCrunch]

Woah, someone's CFL career is over.

[troutman]

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Football/C...340521-cp.html

The general manager of the Saskatchewan Roughriders has pleaded guilty to sexual assault involving a teenage girl.

Eric Tillman's trial at the provincial courthouse in Regina was to begin Monday.

Tillman, who helped lead the Riders to the Grey Cup championship in 2007, has been on paid administrative leave from the Canadian Football League club.

He was charged last February after a complaint by a 16-year-old girl who alleged he sexually assaulted the previous summer.

When the charge was first laid, the married father of two suggested there was more to the story and said he would rely on the justice system to air the facts.

The charge was to proceed on a summary basis, meaning it was considered less serious than an indictable offence.

[troutman]

http://www.leaderpost.com/Eric+Tillm...825/story.html

Saskatchewan Roughriders general manager Eric Tillman has pleaded guilty to a summary charge of sexual assault.

Tillman entered the plea in court in Regina Monday morning. Sentencing has been set for Tuesday. Tillman's lawyer, Aaron Fox, said he will ask for an absolute discharge for his client.

I imagine the circumstances will be read into the record at sentencing.

[troutman]

http://www.rodpedersen.blogspot.com/

In light of the events that have taken place this morning affecting General Manager of the Club, Eric Tillman, President/CEO Jim Hopson has asked that a special meeting of the Board of Directors of the Club be held as soon as reasonably possible to consider all relevant aspects of this new development.

Pending resolution of this matter, the Club and Mr. Tillman have agreed that he should step back and he will not have any responsibilities for the day to day operations of the Saskatchewan Roughrider Football Club.

While an early resolution is desirable for all concerned, no further statement will be made until the Club has completed its deliberations on this development.

The Crown laywer also said the complainant's family has accepted Tillman's apology and does not wish for Tillman to lose his job or to not be able to continue working. They have also NOT requested a non-contact order and she declined to prepare a victim impact statement.

Tillman issued a tearful apology in court to the girl, her family, his own family, to the Roughriders and their fans. Aaron Fox said Tillman had no recollection of the incident which ocurred in August of 2008 after he'd been sent home from the Rider office for erratic behaviour and didn't "appear to be himself". He was under the influence of two different pain medications at the time.

The Crown lawyer said the encounter happened over a period of just a few seconds and that Tillman had approached the victim from behind as she was feeding one of the children, put his hands on her hips with his fingers in her belt-loops and pulled her into him. Mrs Tillman was not present at the time, but arrived a few hours later when the babysitter was still present in the Tillman residence.