UPDATE, MAY 18, 1:30 P.M.: The attorney Angels rightfielder Torii Hunter hired to represent his 17-year-old son Darius McClinton-Hunter, who is fending off allegations of sexual assault on a female classmate in suburban Dallas, claims there is a recording of the 16-year-old girl recanting the boy's involvement.
In Texas, such recordings are legally admissible in court is one of the parties on tape knows the conversation was being recorded.
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In this case, the girl reached out to a mutual friend of McClinton-Hunter's to set the record straight, according to Todd Shapiro, who along with his father Howard Shapiro is representing Darius, a talented high school football star.
“Every bit of what she told police eight days ago has been turned on its ear,” Todd Shapiro told reporters at a news conference. “The
questions were asked. 'Did Darius perform any sex acts on you?' The
answer was 'absolutely not.' 'Did he ever force you to have any sex?'
The answer was 'absolutely not.' She goes on to talk about how this is
blown way out of proportion, that she can't believe the things that have
been said in the media and in the news and all the things that have
been said around school.”
In light of the revelation, Shapiro is demanding that the charges against McClinton-Hunter be dropped. But a day before speaking with reporters, police and prosecutors said more information about the case is pouring in and that the boy may face additional charges. Police in Prosper, Texas, had no comment on the recording, and an assistant DA there said the office does not discuss pending litigation.
Torii Hunter, who is on leave and baseball's restricted list while he remains in Texas to help his son, says he won't re-join the Angels until the matter is settled. His son is free on bond.
ORIGINAL POST, MAY 15, 8:56 A.M.: Angels rightfielder and clubhouse leader Torii Hunter will not be
in the lineup against Oakland this afternoon, having flown home to
Texas following his 17-year-old son's arrest for alleged sexual assault.
Following a month-long investigation, Darius McClinton-Hunter
and four other students from Prosper High School in suburban Dallas
were arrested Monday in connection with sex crimes against a 16-year-old
classmate.
The younger Hunter posted $15,000 bail and was released. But after news of his arrest played on televisions at Anaheim Stadium yesterday, Hunter left for Texas, having been granted a restricted release for what Halos manager Mike Scioscia called a “personal matter.”
“This is very tough for a father,” Hunter tweeted Monday night. “Thanks for ur prayers and support. Be Blessed everyone!”
McClinton-Hunter, a junior at Prosper High, is a speedy 5-foot-11, 165-pound wide receiver on the school's football team and a reported legitimate Division I prospect, having already
received scholarship offers from Utah, West Virginia, Wake Forest and
Texas Tech. Brothers Torii Hunter Jr. and Moonshadrik Hunter are also top college football recruits.
Darius will be tried as an adult, according to authorities in Texas.
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OC Weekly Editor-in-Chief Matt Coker has been engaging, enraging and entertaining readers of newspapers, magazines and websites for decades. He spent the first 13 years of his career in journalism at daily newspapers before “graduating” to OC Weekly in 1995 as the alternative newsweekly’s first calendar editor.