Though he didn’t get drafted in the NFL this past weekend, Hampton University Defensive End Marcus Dixon has signed with the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent! If you are unfamiliar with Marcus Dixon shame on you. Before Jena, before Genarlow Wilson, there was this kid in Rome, Ga.
Marcus Dixon is known for being prosecuted in a high-profile court case when, as a high school student, he was convicted in May 2003 for the rape of Kristie Brown, an underage girl. These charges were later overturned and dropped to statutory rape.
Kristie Brown alleged that on February 10, 2003 Dixon forced her to have sex, taking her virginity. She has stated that contrary to Dixon’s supporters’ belief she was never Dixon’s girlfriend and although they shared classes, they barely knew each other. The jury acquitted Dixon of rape, battery, assault and false imprisonment but because Brown was only 15 3/4 at the time of the incident found him guilty of statutory rape and aggravated child molestation. Because of this Dixon was convicted at the mandatory amount under Georgia law, 10 years imprisonment.[3] Ironically if he would have been found guilty he would have faced a much less severe punishment.[4]
Many saw the case as racially motivated, especially when it was alleged by Dixon’s partisans that Brown had claimed her father “would kill them both” if he found out because he was a racist. The President of the Children’s Defense Fund, Marian Wright Edelman called it a “Legal Lynching“. Also, the location of the incident, Georgia, spurred on the thoughts of racist bigotry.[4]
The conviction was overturned by the GA Supreme court and Dixon was released in 2004. He received a scholarship to Hampton University and made the Dean’s List every semester for his entire tenure. Congrats to Marcus Dixon!!!
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