Grand jury declines to indict Raiders’ Gareon Conley in rape case

A rape accusation case against Raiders cornerback Gareon Conley was sent to a grand jury early Monday, according to a statement from the Cleveland Police Department.

By late afternoon, the grand jury had weighed the evidence and cleared Conley of any wrongdoing related to the investigation.

Spokesman Ryan Miday of the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office said in a statement Monday that the grand jury declined all possible charges for Conley after being presented the facts and circumstances surrounding the sexual assault allegations.

Conley’s attorney, Kevin Spellacy, said his client trusted and participated in the legal system, and, “Today, he was vindicated.”

The decision in Ohio came shortly after the Raiders had concluded practice in Napa, California. The team drafted Conley in April despite the allegations against him, confident a police investigation would clear their first-round pick and hopeful the matter would be resolved before camp.

“I’m excited for Gareon and the Raiders for the process to work,” Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie said.

The latest in the investigation of the team’s first-round draft pick came three days after Conley signed a four-year, $10.5 million contract and reported to training camp. He was then placed on the team’s physically unable to perform list Saturday for an unreported injury, which McKenzie said Monday was shin splints.

A woman accused Conley of rape in a Cleveland hotel room this April. Conley’s lawyer has publicly characterized a sexual event between the two as consensual.

“The case involving Gareon Conley was submitted to the grand jury today,” the earlier statement from Cleveland police said. “Once a decision is reached, the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s office will be the point of contact for information.”

That decision was reached quickly Monday.

The 6-foot, 195-pound Conley, taken by the Raiders with the 24th overall pick, was a starting cornerback at Ohio State for two years and captain of the Buckeyes his last season.

More Raiders: Follow all of our Oakland Raiders-to-Las Vegas coverage online at reviewjournal.com/Raiders and @NFLinVegas on Twitter.