Special Prosecutor Appointed in UA Basketball Rape Claim Case

LITTLE ROCK - A special prosecutor will review a rape claim against three Arkansas basketball players after local authorities declined to file charges.

Washington County Circuit Judge William A. Storey filed an order Monday asking the state's prosecutor coordinator to recommend someone to take over the case. A lawyer representing the accuser requested a special prosecutor last week, and local prosecutor John Threet filed his own motion Monday asking the court to appoint one.

Threet said he stands by his decision not to file charges against the players - but that he wanted to speed up the process of appointing a special prosecutor because "this needs to be an end to this."

John D. Bass, lawyer for the family of the female who alleged the rape, said in an e-mail to media outlets: "We have learned today that Washington County Prosecuting Attorney John Threet has decided to request the appointment of a special prosecutor in the rape allegations made against 3 UA student-athletes. The victim and her family are hopeful that a thorough and unbiased investigation will be conducted and we will be concentrating our efforts on that."

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