Former San Francisco 49ers defensive tackle Dana Stubblefield was found guilty of rape on Monday by a Santa Clara County jury at the conclusion of a nine-month trial, according to ESPN.
Stubblefield, 49, could have 15 years to life in prison for the 2015 reported sexual assault.
According to prosecutors, Stubblefield lured the woman, who has developmental disabilities, to his home in Morgan Hill, California, back on April 9th, 2015, under the pretense of a babysitting job, and say that Stubblefield used a gun during the assault.
Additionally, prosecutors say Stubblefield initially contacted the woman on a babysitting website and arranged an interview at his home, which lasted 20 minutes, but would later return to the home upon receiving a text from Stubblefield saying he wanted to pay her for her time that day.
Following the rape, prosecutors say that Stubblefiel paid her $80 and let her go.
The woman immediately went to the Morgan Hill Police Department and reported the rape, while also giving police the money that Stubblefield gave her.
Stubblefield was found guilty of rape by force, oral copulation by force and false imprisonment and acquitted him of raping a person incapable of giving consent, according to the Sacramento Bee.
“The victim has struggled her whole life with learning disabilities and challenges to be self-sufficient,” Santa Clara County’s District Attorney Jeff Rosen said in an official statement. “If we are not fighting for her, then who are we fighting for? It has been a long road for this remarkable woman and we are thankful to the jury for providing her some closure and, for our community, justice after an unconscionable and violent crime.”
Allen Sawyer, Stubblefield’s attorney, said he “firmly believes” his client is innocent adding that they plan to appeal the ruling.
“It was very difficult for jurors to try to recall what evidence was presented months ago,” Sawyer said, according to CNN. “The jury was in panel in January and it stopped for two months because of Covid, then it stopped again for weeks on time.”
