FSU’s Davis is found not guilty
Florida State running back Dalvin Cook was found not guilty on Monday of punching a woman in the face outside a bar in June after she engaged in a shouting match with him and his teammates. The college immediately lifted his suspension following the verdict.
It took the seven-member jury in Tallahassee, Fla., only about 20 minutes to deliver its verdict after a oneday trial that included the testimony of the alleged victim, one of her friends and several of Cook’s teammates. Cook had been charged with misdemeanor battery.
“I’m just thankful and blessed that the truth came out,” said Cook, who had been indefinitely suspended after being charged in the June 23 incident. “It’s time to go to work — back to the field. I’ve been working, but now it’s time to get at it.”
Cook’s attorneys pushed for the trial to start before Florida State’s season begins Sept. 5 against Texas State. They called only one witness, a graduate student who testified that he watched a group of players argue with Madison Geohegan and her friend, but that none of the players hit her.
Three teammates gave similar testimony, saying that Cook tried to calm the situation as Geohegan and his teammates shouted at one another. Even Geohegan testified that Cook at first was level-headed and tried to stop the fight, telling everyone to “chill out.”
But she testified that he became angry when she pushed Florida State wide receiver Travis Rudolph and when she told the group she wasn’t impressed that they were players. She told them she was dating Auburn defensive back T.J. Davis.
Geohegan told the jury that Cook shouted, “We can buy you in two years! Google me!”
“I said, ‘Everyone’s on Google,’ ” Geohegan testified. She said that is when Cook punched her.
Cook, 20, led Florida State last year with 1,008 rushing yards as a freshman.
Arizona State assistant coach Bo Graham resigned from his father’s staff because of personal reasons. He was entering his third season as running backs coach and fourth overall under Todd Graham.