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DeVoe Torrence acquitted in underage sex case
Thursday, July 10, 2008
By Benjamin Duer
REPOSITORY STAFF WRITER



RAPE TRIAL Judge David E. Stucki listens as Massillon police detective Bobby Grizzard testifies at DeVoe Torrence's trial Wednesday in Stark County Family Court. Torrence hopes to play college football after being acquitted of a juvenile rape allegation involving a 12-year-old girl. REPOSITORY JULIE

CANTON A one-time Ohio State recruit from Massillon hopes to resume his dream of playing college football now that he has been cleared of a rape charge involving a 12-year-old girl.

Stark County Family Court Judge David E. Stucki ruled there was not enough evidence to convict DeVoe J. Torrence following a one-day trial.

Torrence, 18, and his family rejoiced after the ruling, hugging and shaking a Bible outside the courtroom.

"God is good," a family friend exclaimed. At least one family member wailed.

"I feel great," a smiling Torrence said afterward.

The former Washington High School running back denied having sex with the sixth-grade girl at his house Sept. 23.

He was one of a dozen teenagers charged in March for sexual conduct allegations involving three girls, ages 12 to 14. The other cases have been resolved.

None of the defendants forced, threatened or coerced the girls. The charges were based solely on the girls' ages.

"He has a chance to redeem his life, to put his life back together," said Torrence's stepfather, Joe Waters.

The Buckeyes pulled their full-ride scholarship offer in January due to unspecified off-the-field issues. It is unclear if the rape allegation contributed to lost scholarship.

Torrence said he plans to contact colleges and let them know he is now available to play football.

"I liked Ohio State. But, unfortunately, I wasn't able to go there," he said. "Hopefully, another school will pick me up."

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TORRENCE FOUND NOT GUILTY: Judge: Prosecutors failed to prove case; victim had lack of credibility in rape trial



Glenn B. Dettman/The Independent
Stark County Family Court Judge David Stucki ponders over a decision in the rape case against former Washington High School star DeVoe Torrence, seated left next to his attorney Jeffrey Haupt. Stucki found Torrence not delinquent, the juvenile equivalent of not guilty, of having sex with a 12-year-old girl.

By DOUG STALEY
The Independent
Posted Jul 09, 2008

CANTON, OH ? Former Massillon Tiger football star DeVoe Torrence has a message he wants to send to major college programs: he?s available.
Torrence, a former Ohio State University recruit, was found not delinquent ? the juvenile equivalent of not guilty ? of rape Wednesday in Stark County Family Court by Judge David Stucki. The charge alleged Torrence had sex with a 12-year-old girl last September. In Ohio, having sex with someone under the age of 13 is considered rape.

?I feel great,? Torrence said minutes after his acquittal.
Torrence, who paid homage to the Buckeyes by wearing a dark red shirt and silver tie, said he?s ready to move on with his life.

?It?s been hard. I just put my faith in God,? Torrence said. ?The type of person they were portraying me to be was not true. I felt pretty confident coming in.?

Torrence faced the possibility of a minimum of one year in a state juvenile prison if he had been convicted. He also would have been required to register as a sex offender for life. Torrence was tried in juvenile court because he was 17 at the time.

After the verdict was read, a flood of emotions spilled over into tears, hugs and shouts of ?praise to God? among Torrence?s family.

?I?m just excited, you know, that DeVoe can get his life back,? said Wanda Perrin, DeVoe?s mother. ?I?d like to see him go on to college and play football. This has been tough. There?s been a lot of stress and strain. I think it?s going to make him a stronger person.?

Vindication was the word Joe Waters, Torrence?s father, used to describe his reaction to the judge?s verdict.

?I think he?ll make better judgments and not put himself in that position again,? Waters said. ?Sometimes celebrity status can hurt you. I think he was targeted because he was on the front cover of a magazine.?
In issuing his ruling, Stucki said prosecutors failed to prove their case and cited a lack of credibility in the victim?s testimony.

?I did nothing with her,? Torrence said.

The victim and a second girl allegedly went upstairs to Torrence?s bedroom during a party at his home after he had fallen asleep. Justin Turner, a teammate of Torrence?s, had introduced Torrence to the girls earlier in the evening.

?I had dozed off for maybe 10 or 15 minutes and then they came knocking on the door,? Torrence said. ?We didn?t go to the bed or nothing like that.?
Turner testified that Torrence showed him a condom following the alleged incident.

Torrence said Turner was mistaken.

?He must have been speaking about another time,? he testified.

TORRENCE FOUND NOT GUILTY: Judge: Prosecutors failed to prove case; victim had lack of credibility in rape trial - Massillon, OH - The Independent