Philadelphia Eagles offensive lineman Josh Sills has been indicted on rape and kidnapping charges just days before the Super Bowl.
The Attorney General released a statement which said: ‘In December 2019, the indictment says, Sills engaged in sexual activity that was not consensual and held a victim against her will.
‘The crime was immediately reported, and the Guernsey County Sheriff’s Office conducted a detailed investigation.
‘The case was presented to the grand jury and is being prosecuted by the Special Prosecutions Section of the Attorney General’s Office.’
Sills was issued a summons to appear in Guernsey County Common Pleas Court at 1pm on Feb 16.
Count one the jury found that Sills ‘did engage in sexual conduct’ with the victim only referred to as M.M. they said that he ‘purposely compelled her to submit to force or threat of force.’
Count two the jury found the 25-year-old ‘did, by force, threat, or deception, remove M.M from the place where she was found or restrain the liberty of her for the purpose of facilitating the commission of a felony.’
Considering his lack of playing time, his potential absence – if the Eagles choose to suspend or release Sills – will not have an effect on the team. However, the news can certainly serve as a distraction for the players and the organization as they attempt to win their second ever Super Bowl, and fifth NFL Championship overall.
That distraction may prove more obvious this Tuesday during media day for the Super Bowl as reporters will almost certainly be asking Sills (if he shows up) and/or his teammates about the charges. It gives the Eagles even more motivation to release Sills, though such motivation should not be required considering the indictment.
The NFL doesn’t necessarily wait for a player to be found guilty of criminal charges before suspending them, pending their own investigation, or suspending a player without pay as the investigation or criminal case continues. According to the NFL Conduct Policy: “An individual may be placed on paid leave if formally charged with a violent crime or sexual assault, or if the NFL investigation finds sufficient credible evidence that it appears a violation of the policy has occurred.”
Teams do not have to wait for the NFL to make that decision, at least in terms of whether or not the respective team wants to keep the player or release him. Hence, Sills’ immediate future in the NFL is likely in jeopardy and his future overall certainly is.
The charges against Sills, 25, stem from an incident with a woman on Dec. 5, 2019, in Guernsey County, Ohio, according to the indictment.
According to prosecutors, Sills “purposely compelled” the victim to “submit by force or threat of force” to sexual conduct. The charges are for felony rape of the first degree.
The NFL rookie is also being accused of kidnapping the woman, as the indictment alleges that Sills “did, by force, threat, or deception, remove” the victim from “the place where she was found or restrain the liberty of her for the purpose of facilitating the commission of a felony.”
TMZ originally reported the news nationally and noted that Sills was issued a summons to appear in court in Ohio on Feb 16, which is only four days after the Super Bowl.
Sills is an undrafted rookie who managed to surprisingly make the Eagles 53-man roster back in August. He has been on the roster ever since, though he has only appeared in one game when he took few snaps against the Cardinals back in October. That game took place in State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizon, which also happens to be the site of next week’s Super Bowl. For this past Sunday’s NFC Championship victory over the 49ers, Sills was one of 6 inactives on the Eagles roster.
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