In 2020, Dana Stubblefield, a defensive tackle, was sentenced to 15 years to life in jail for raping a woman who was interviewing for a babysitting job at his Morgan Hill home. On Friday, a San Jose court authorized Stubblefield’s release from prison.
However, an appellate court overturned the conviction in December of last year.
The court decided that prosecutors’ racially prejudiced remarks about Stubblefield’s race, which violated the state’s Racial Justice Act, prevented him from receiving a fair trial.
Stubblefield was freed by Friday’s decision, pending the authorities’ decision to re-file charges against him.
In reaction to the ruling, Santa Clara County Assistant District Attorney Terry Harman stated, “We remain focused on the sexual assault that occurred, the victim, and the need for responsibility and community safety.
