Ben Roethlisberger Hires Private Investigator For Assault Case

ATLANTA — An attorney for Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has hired a private investigator to look into a sexual assault allegation made by a 20-year-old Georgia college student.

Police in the college town of Milledgeville continue to investigate, but have released little information since the accusation was made a week ago.

The two-time Super Bowl champ's lawyer, Ed Garland, said he has hired his own investigative team.

"Any lawyer representing anyone needs to know all the facts so that he can perform his duties," he said.

Roethlisberger has not been charged, and Garland said "no criminal conduct took place."

Carl Cansino, a lawyer for the club where the woman says the assault took place, said he was contacted Friday by the private investigator, Charles Mittelstadt. Cansino was also on hand when authorities interviewed club manager Rocky Duncan Wednesday.

Police Chief Woodrow Blue said at a Monday news conference that investigators expected to speak to Roethlisberger this week. He said Friday that the investigation continues at a steady pace but declined to comment on any details, including whether authorities had interviewed Roethlisberger or asked him for a DNA sample.

"We haven't set any kind of timetable," he said. "Where the investigation leads us will determine that."

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is also working on the case, but agent Tom Davis in Milledgeville did not return calls seeking comment. Agency spokesman John Bankhead said only that the investigation is ongoing.

Lawyers for the woman who accused Roethlisberger released a statement earlier in the week saying their client is cooperating with authorities and asking the media to respect her privacy. They have not responded to calls and e-mails from The Associated Press seeking additional comment.

Photos have also surfaced online of Roethlisberger smiling alongside the officer who wrote the initial incident report early on March 5. The police chief said the photos were taken hours before the allegation was made.

Blue said Friday he wasn't concerned about the photos, saying the officer, Sgt. Jerry Blash, and others had seen Roethlisberger earlier in the evening. Beyond filing the report, Blash has not been involved in the investigation, Blue said.

Comments

[Mechelle Gray]

05:55 PM on 03/14/2010

This is getting only an "inth" of the press, that Kobe got.

Interesting.

[skippy20008]

06:25 PM on 03/14/2010

Agreed, but obviously it's not as important as Erin Andrews' legs. At least according to HP.

[Richard Rafter]

12:33 AM on 03/14/2010

No it's two and Richard Jewell and the Duke Lacrosse players were guilty too, remember how that worked out?

[BikeFreak]

12:20 AM on 03/14/2010

Ben just lost any thoughts that he may be innocent in my mind.

Hiring a private investigator in rape cases means they are going to try to learn about every se xual encounter his accuser may have had in the past.

A total smear is in the works and I just cannot respect that.

[BlackWaterKeepRolling]

10:40 AM on 03/14/2010

I would have to disagree. The fact that he can afford a good lawyer
does not imply guilt. Being found guilty implies guilt.

Perhaps the investigators are looking for things such as "how
much was she drinking" or "Did she touch Ben in a sexual way"...

Innocent or guilty - people have a tendency to protect themselves.

[BikeFreak]

01:25 PM on 03/14/2010

Then why hasn't he spoken to the police yet about this?

Why did he not, instead of a PI, get a lawyer that specializes in civil suits for wrongful accusations?

Each thing just all adds up in my mind and I no doubt Ben.

[tamdayc]

12:15 AM on 03/14/2010

how dare you post his Huffpo, he is White don't you know. We don't report the misdeeds of shiny White athletes.

[dteg]

01:40 PM on 03/14/2010

Well they are doing a good scrubbing job here. It it still pretty much a free for all on the Tiger threads.

[Mechelle Gray]

05:55 PM on 03/14/2010

So true.

[Wide Stance]

08:42 PM on 03/13/2010

Let the smear campaign begin... Sickening.

[CarterR99]

07:33 PM on 03/13/2010

If this was anything other than a ploy for money, charges would have been filed by now, don't you think?

[jukesgrrl]

09:48 PM on 03/13/2010

No. You're entitled to a speedy trial once you are charged. But within the bounds of the statute of limitations, the authorities are entitled to take as long as they want to investigate. And if they wish to avoid a Duke-style situation, they will have every i dotted and every t crossed before any charge is filed. Most sensible prosecutors don't file unless they have a reasonable expectation of winning their case. They need time to do that. And they are smart not to talk to the press in the meantime.

[carbolaw]

11:09 PM on 03/13/2010

No, the alleged victim has done all she can - she has filed a complaint. At this point the time line is up to the police as investigators and the DA as the prosecutor. There are many, many reasons why charges would not have been filed as of yet. In this type of case, I would have been shocked if chargers were filed at this point.

[cookerman45]

06:08 PM on 03/13/2010

she needs to hire one on him.......this is not the first time ....there is most defiantly more sh@t on him out there.....

[Alex Herrera]

05:19 PM on 03/13/2010

Is Big Ben going to hire the same private investigator that O.J. used to find his wife's murderer?

[Mechelle Gray]

05:56 PM on 03/14/2010

Showing you "colors" again Alex. Play nice!

[skippy20008]

02:44 PM on 03/13/2010

Only one reason to hire a PI -- to dig up dirt on the accuser. Would an innocent party need to do this?

[dteg]

05:19 PM on 03/13/2010

Bingo they are looking for any dirt they can find. I hope there is a strong DA that will not be influenced by the Ben's fame and that Ben will not be able to intimidate the victim.

[carbolaw]

11:14 PM on 03/13/2010

I have to say I agree with you. As a lifelong Steelers fan this case is getting me sick to my stomach. I am concerned that this is the exact course that BR took in the case in Las Vegas. As I look back I wonder how many of the supposed "co-workers" that discredited the individual in LV had their own agenda. It sure looks like many of them were managers and directors of the resort that had a big motivation to attract celebrities.

[armyman72]

02:20 PM on 03/13/2010

Is this three for him? hmmm...I'm just saying