In New Orleans, allegations of rape hovered over former Saints (and Packers and Vikings) safety Darren Sharper for months. No charges were filed, prompting some to think the powers-that-be weren’t inclined to pursue a potential he-said/she-said situation.
Once the decision was made to prosecute Sharper, the NOPD took the situation extremely seriously.
According to Naomi Martin of the New Orleans Times-Picayune, the authorities in New Orleans rejected Sharper’s offer to fly himself to Louisiana to face the charges, opting instead to have him immediately arrested in Los Angeles and extradited to New Orleans.
Instead, New Orleans plans to fly two officers to Los Angeles to bring Sharper back in handcuffs.
“After conducting many interviews and collecting substantial evidence, the New Orleans Police Department issued an arrest warrant for Darren Sharper, who is accused of the aggravated rapes of two women in New Orleans,” Police Superintendent Ronal Serpas said in a statement. “If convicted of these crimes, Mr. Sharper may be sentenced to two life sentences in prison. This police department was not willing to negotiate with Sharper’s attorneys considering the dire seriousness of these allegations.”
Sharper faces criminal charges in California on two counts of rape. Overall, he is accused of raping nine women and drugging 11 people in five states during the period from September 22, 2013 through January 15, 2014. Charges are possible in Arizona, Las Vegas, and Miami.
Given the number of incidents in a window of fewer than four months, it’s difficult not to wonder whether other alleged victims will come forward.
Throughout the period in question, Sharper was employed by NFL Network. The league suspended him after the California charges were filed and fired him after Louisiana chose to pursue the situation there.