Dana Stubblefield: Dana Stubblefield Released From Prison After 2020 Rape Conviction—But Prosecutors Are Refiling Rape Charges | NFL News
Former San Francisco 49ers defensive tackle Dana Stubblefield is back at home after three years behind bars but is not done with the courts. He was freed following an appeals court ruling that set aside a 2020 rape conviction against him. Prosecutors have made it plain—they will refile charges.
What Caused Dana Stubblefield’s Conviction to be Reversed?
Stubblefield was convicted of raping a woman at gunpoint in 2015. The Sixth District Court of Appeal overturned the conviction in December of 2024, ruling that prosecutors had made “racially discriminatory remarks” during the trial, in violation of the California Racial Justice Act-prohibiting race-based bias in legal proceedings.
Despite the overturned conviction, Stubblefield remained incarcerated due to legal technicalities. But after weeks of delays, Santa Clara Superior Court Judge Hector Ramon finally granted his release.
His attorney, Kenneth Rosenfeld, celebrated the decision, stating, “Finally, an innocent man is no longer sitting in a cage away from his family.” Stubblefield is now out of prison but must wear an ankle monitor, avoid firearms, and have no contact with the alleged victim.
The ruling was a significant victory for Stubblefield’s legal team, which had long argued that his trial was unfair from the start. His attorney, Kenneth Rosenfeld, slammed the prosecution for relying on racial stereotypes, saying, “The entire trial was marred by errors and bias.”
Stubblefield, a former first-round draft pick and Super Bowl champion, was convicted in 2020 for the 2015 rape of a woman who had come to his home under the impression of interviewing for a babysitting job. Prosecutors argued that Stubblefield lured her in, assaulted her, and then paid her to stay silent.
The defense, however, claimed the encounter was consensual and that the woman willingly engaged in sex for money. Stubblefield was initially sentenced to 15 years to life in prison, but his conviction was overturned due to the racial bias claims—not because the court ruled he was innocent.
Dana Stubblefield’s Future: Freedom or Another Trial?
While Stubblefield is free for now, the Santa Clara County District Attorney‘s Office isn’t letting the case go. Assistant District Attorney Terry Harman emphasized that their focus remains on accountability and the victim’s justice.
“A jury unanimously found Mr. Stubblefield guilty of raping a woman at gunpoint… justice has been interrupted,” Harman stated. Prosecutors are now awaiting a California Supreme Court ruling and intend to refile charges.
The former NFL star, who played 11 seasons with the 49ers, Washington, and Raiders, winning Defensive Player of the Year in 1997, could still face a new trial and another potential conviction.
As Stubblefield prepares to speak at a press conference this week, one thing is clear—his legal battle is far from over.
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