Jurors find L.A. Rams strength, conditioning coach Ted Rath not guilty of sexual battery

[Merlin]

I think we need to go back to the film of him "holding McVay back" and verify whether there was any buttocks-grabbing...

 

[Merlin]

BUT - does this crime fit the punishment that would have been handed down with a guilty verdict? I don't think so. And even if the jury thought it did happen, I think it would have been hard for them to essentially ruin his life over this situation.

I think this is an important consideration. Being a red dot on a map that people fear is a big deal as we push deeper into this digital age. "Sex offender" is something that no neighbor is going to easily accept no matter where you live.

We'll never know what happened of course but personally I feel like the defense of medicine is weak. I mean does that medication react with alcohol? I don't know but I doubt it. I take blood pressure meds like a lot of folks, shouldn't drink when I'm on them, but if I do can I go to my neighbor's house and grab some @$$?

Imagine this... You go to a fundraiser with your neighbor and start drinking. Then you hit a bar and get more effed up. Then you go to their house to finish the night off. I mean there's a lot of room for a drunk idiot to think he might have a connection with his neighbor's wife and sneak in there to consummate things.

Like I alluded to above... Rath is a dude I wouldn't trust. No way I'd be inviting him over for a BBQ if I'm one of his neighbors. But all that aside I think it's the right decision to not tag him with a sex offender future for a mistake he made particularly since he backed off when she rejected him; it's basically a dude mis-reading the woman's interest IMO.

 

[FrantikRam]

Wow, I just don't have a feel for the legal community. Now, granted, the medication issue, should have been looked into, but again, I don't believe it should be factored in because he should have not been drinking in the first place.

Some felt the woman defusing the situation was not the right call,but that is exactly what she should have done, in order to make him stop and move on. I'm in agreement with @FrantikRam I think he did it and the Jury felt, it was not a strong enough case to ruin his life especially as a registered sex offender...Now as to the medication, I'm sure combined with the alcohol that pushed Rath to do something he would not ordinarily do, but I also don't believe the woman did this because of being scorn or anything else, but if this did happen I encourage every person to press charges.

In the end, not sure what the Rams do, being acquitted @LARams_1963 is correct doesn't seem likely they can terminate, but I would give strong consideration of not bringing Rath back after this season as most of the original assistants signed 3 year deals and their contracts will be up and the end of this season.

I believe - but am in no way certain - that everyone associated with an NFL team has something along the lines of "conduct detrimental to the team" being cause for termination.

The Rams would be fully within their right to terminate from that perspective, I think.

 

[FrantikRam]

I don't think you have a choice. He was acquitted, he should retain his job, whether we like it or not. Set's a bad precedent if they don't keep him. What would be next? All someone has to do is cry wolf (not saying this is the case here) and you lose your job? I would hate to lose my job over someone fabricating a claim against me. While we don't know the complete truth to this case we do know they found him not guilty.

This is where working for a professional sports team is a different job than you or I have.

In this exact circumstance, I would definitely not lose my job (nor do I think I should) - but I do think he could, and maybe should lose his job. The only scenario where I see him staying is if McVay has him address and apologize to the entire organization for putting himself in the situation.

 

[FrantikRam]

It might be the apparently obvious reason that he did the "crime" and there wasn't enough evidence for a jury to convict. But there also could be motive for going after Rath that we don't know about. Spurned love? Revenge? Psycho? Once you start going down the road of "he was really guilty, but got off" stuff, can someone ever be considered innocent?

All that I'm sure of is that a court found him not guilty. Give the man his life back.

Depends on the situation.

And I'll say this - part of the problem with this type of case is that it's put into the sexual assault category, which is a little bit of a stretch.

There are thousands of cases where it's obvious someone is guilty but it can't be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. The NFL has started to crack down on these situations when their players get off free - Zeke suspended for six games without any charges is a good example.

 

[Young Ram]

I didn’t know Rath had a mild stroke.

 

[den-the-coach]

I think we need to go back to the film of him "holding McVay back" and verify whether there was any buttocks-grabbing...

If there was, I'm sure he was under prescribed medication at the time.

 

[den-the-coach]

Rams assistant found not guilty of sexual battery

[www.espn.com]

A jury on Friday found Los Angeles Rams strength and conditioning coach Ted Rath not guilty on three counts of misdemeanor sexual battery, according to Ventura County Superior Court records.

Rath, 35, was arrested Jan. 15 on suspicion of sexual battery, stemming from an alleged incident with a woman he knew in Moorpark, California, about 10 miles from the team's practice headquarters, on June 15, 2018.

According to a news release from the district attorney's office, the charges alleged that Rath "touched an adult woman against her will on intimate parts of her body for the purpose of sexual arousal and gratification."

Following his arrest in January, the Rams placed Rath on a leave of absence, and he did not attend the NFC Championship Game at the New Orleans Saints or Super Bowl LIII in Atlanta. Rath remained on leave throughout the offseason program.

The trial spanned six days and included testimony from Rath, the woman and former Rams defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, according to court records. The jury submitted its verdict after about an hour of deliberation.

"We are aware of today's verdict," the Rams said in a statement. "Now that this trial is complete, we will revisit Ted Rath's status. In addition, we will continue to assist the NFL as it completes its separate investigation."

Rath could face potential discipline from the league.

"We've been monitoring developments in the matter which is being reviewed," the NFL said in a statement.

If reinstated, Rath will enter his third season as the strength and conditioning coach for the team.

Rookies are scheduled to report to Rams training camp on July 24. Veterans will report July 26, and practice is set to begin July 27.

 

[MadGoat]

After reading the charges and circumstances I thought it did not look good for Rath.

Now, with little to no evidence I do not understand why they even took him to trial.

They probably are used to that strategy working on people without the resources to hire a good attorney.

 

[snackdaddy]

It might be the apparently obvious reason that he did the "crime" and there wasn't enough evidence for a jury to convict. But there also could be motive for going after Rath that we don't know about. Spurned love? Revenge? Psycho? Once you start going down the road of "he was really guilty, but got off" stuff, can someone ever be considered innocent?

All that I'm sure of is that a court found him not guilty. Give the man his life back.

I agree. Going with the "He did it" after he was acquitted is akin to guilty before proven innocent. We don't know what really happened/ So its best to just leave it to the legal system and the that says he is innocent.

As far as why they charged him and went all the way to an expensive jury trial for a misdemeanor? Does the prosecutor have something to gain in a case that has media attention? Perhaps promotions were hanging on this? Did the woman decide to stick to her guns and press charges? Or did the prosecutor talk her into it?

 

[den-the-coach]

So the Rams will revisit Rath's status and working with the NFL until they complete their investigation...The Los Angeles Rams currently have three "Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coaches" on the staff in Fernando Noriega, Edward Grayer & Dustin Woods all under five years experience...IMO, I'm betting the Rams part ways with Coach Rath.

 

[snackdaddy]

So the Rams will revisit Rath's status and working with the NFL until they complete their investigation...The Los Angeles Rams currently have three "Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coaches" on the staff in Fernando Noriega, Edward Grayer & Dustin Woods all under five years experience...IMO, I'm betting the Rams part ways with Coach Rath.

You might be right. Innocent or not the damage has been done.

 

[den-the-coach]

Perhaps promotions were hanging on this? Did the woman decide to stick to her guns and press charges? Or did the prosecutor talk her into it?

Or perhaps because of "Who it was" they convinced her to press charges, it was her civic duty. IMHO as much as I believe the woman was not lying, I believe if this was Sal the Accountant, who wandered in to cop a feel, I believe it would have not gone to trial, although the couple would be getting their taxes done at no charge for an extended period of time.

 

[So Ram]

He "doesn't remember" doing it.
He may have done it and they've established that there's a reason why he might not have had "willful intent."

Yeah, I think the defense has to feel good about this. That being said, you never know with a jury trial. I was on one where three jurors just wouldn't listen to reason and we came back as a hung jury on a misdemeanor vandalism case. I mean, Ugh.

Jurors can be tough. As it shows here there is reasonable doubt.
My question would be if he didn’t remember? How did he get home that night & what does he remember?? Then you get a better idea if he is lieing or not ?

I think The Rams should pay him and move on. I think it sucks they waited so long to press chargers. If the police are calling in late June, why wait until the biggest part of his career to do it ?? Wait till after the Super Bowl ??
He has 3 kids & a wife ?? WTF ??
I wonder how pissed he would be if the other neighbor came over & did the same thing. Wonder if he messes around on the road ?? The coaching staff has an idea about his behavior.
Will see how McVay handles the situation??
He was a big part of practices. I’m sure McVay has a feel for how the team is with & without him after OTA’s

 

[I like Rams]

Lots of questions left open here.

1. I get questioning Raths mental status that night, but what about the woman's? She was just woken up.

2. How dark was it? That plays a MAJOR part in identifying someone. Especially when just being woke up.

3. She made sure she got a good look at his face, why not the time? Some of the men may have been able to recall what happened around that time and if they saw Rath.

2. Noone saw Rath dissapear and come back at any point in time? What about the guy he wanted to talk business with?? He couldnt give a description of his mannerisms or possible mental state while they were talking? What about all the other men there? None of them do not have any recolection of anything that happened?

 

[nighttrain]

Lots of questions left open here.

1. I get questioning Raths mental status that night, but what about the woman's? She was just woken up.

2. How dark was it? That plays a MAJOR part in identifying someone. Especially when just being woke up.

3. She made sure she got a good look at his face, why not the time? Some of the men may have been able to recall what happened around that time and if they saw Rath.

2. Noone saw Rath leave? What about the guy he wanted to talk business with?? He couldnt give a description of his mannerisms or possible mental state while they were talking? What about all the other men there? None of them do not have any recolection of anything that happened?

it is sooooooo weird gotta just say"tohellwithitall"
to much left our or unsaid, and if Rath has any responsibility that DA is totally incompetent
train

 

[den-the-coach]

Jurors can be tough. As it shows here there is reasonable doubt.
My question would be if he didn’t remember? How did he get home that night & what does he remember?? Then you get a better idea if he is lieing or not ?

I believe he does not remember doing it and I also believe he does not recall how he got home that night as somebody most likely walked him there. I've been around enough incapacitated individuals (friends) in my time in the military and getting them home and they would ask me days later, "How did you get me home"? I just believe an act happened and unfortunately the punishment did not fit the crime and thus IMO, is the reason Rath was acquitted. That and a weak case by the DA.

 

[Dodgersrf]

So the Rams will revisit Rath's status and working with the NFL until they complete their investigation...The Los Angeles Rams currently have three "Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coaches" on the staff in Fernando Noriega, Edward Grayer & Dustin Woods all under five years experience...IMO, I'm betting the Rams part ways with Coach Rath.

I think they let Rath go as well.
If he was a star player, it would be a different story.

I'm in the camp that believes he stepped way out of line.
I also dont get the impression that this was a money grab for the victim.
The fact the couples already had a relationship is curious to me.
Have the couples acted provocatively in the past? Possibly.

The difficulty prosecuting this case was clear from the beginning, though. I dont think this goes to court had it not been for Rath working for the Rams. Any regular person off the street and this case is passed on imo

 

[Corbin]

I know he wasn't found guilty, but there is literally no reason for her to bring the charges unless it actually happened. If her and her husband are hanging out with Rath and going to fundraisers, I would imagine they're in the same ball park financially - so it wouldn't be for money.

Nah, this happened. I'm sure of that.

BUT - does this crime fit the punishment that would have been handed down with a guilty verdict? I don't think so. And even if the jury thought it did happen, I think it would have been hard for them to essentially ruin his life over this situation.

Because we all know people makes up accusations or events for no reason right?

 

[Loyal]

Well, this is the last I will say about it I think.
* He was found not guilty.
* None of us attended the trial, and the jurors who did found him not guilty.
* A Not Guilty verdict doesn't mean proven innocent, but we have no certain way to really do so unless there are multiple relible witnesses to the incident. This did not happen here.
* IF the accused is considered innocent until proven guilty, then what happens when he is not proven guilty?
* Like den says, the team can choose to not renew his contract and no cause is needed to not offer a new contract. If the NFL has a suspension planned because of a conduct violation, Rath has no representation like an NFL player would have, so will likely be the big loser financially in trying to fight any such decision.