Sexual assault covers a wide array of sex crimes. It includes anything that forces a person to engage in an unwanted sexual contact, and also verbal or even visual acts such as voyeurism. Exhibitionism, obscene phone calls and attempted rape are all examples of this crime.
Britney Spears
Britney Spears was accused of sexual assault in 2010 when the pop star’s bodyguard, Fernando Flores, alleged that he was forced to resign from his position after numerous incidents involving pressure from Ms. Spears to return the unwanted attention he was receiving from her or lose his job. He reported that Ms. Spears ran around her house nude and screaming at her staff. When Mr. Flores was blamed by the singer’s father for Ms. Spears’ going out in public without wearing underwear, he resigned.
Ben Roethlisberger
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was cleared of sexual assault charges brought by a 20-year-old coed in Georgia who had accused the athlete of assaulting her in a bathroom. She later declined to press charges after commenting that everyone had been drinking excessively. This was the second time the quarterback had been accused of sexual assault, and he was suspended by the NFL for several games.
The Duke lacrosse team
In 2006, members of the Duke lacrosse team were arrested and accused of sexually assaulting a black woman they had hired to dance at a party. Although the charges were dismissed, the case ended with the suspension of the District Attorney in the case for prosecutorial misconduct, and the firing of the lacrosse coach. The case also highlighted issues of sex, privilege, wealth, race and the conduct of college sports teams in America.
Michael Jackson
In a famous trial in 2005, Michael Jackson was alleged to have engaged in a pattern of supplying alcohol to children invited to his Neverland Ranch, sleeping with them and sexually assaulting them. A boy, age 13 at the time of the alleged assault, accused the entertainer of a number of similar encounters during a visit to the ranch. After confusing testimony at the trial and revelations that the accuser’s family may have concocted the charges to receive compensation, Mr. Jackson was acquitted of all charges. It was revealed during the case that Mr.Jackson had previously made a $20 million settlement to another party who had also accused him of sexual assault.
