Marcus Dixon
Encyclopedia
Marcus Dwayne Dixon is an American football
defensive end
who is currently playing for the New York Jets
. He was signed by the Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 2008. He played college football
at Hampton.
Dixon is also known for being prosecuted in a high-profile court case when, as a high school student, he was convicted in May 2003 for the rape
of Kristie Brown, an underage girl. These charges were later overturned and dropped to statutory rape
.
at Vanderbilt University
, but due to his court case and conviction he was unable to take on this opportunity.
in Virginia
with a football scholarship.
as an undrafted free agent. The team released Dixon on September 4, 2010.
. An exclusive rights free agent, Dixon was signed to a one-year contract on January 26, 2011.
. She has stated that contrary to Dixon's supporters' belief she was never Dixon's girlfriend and although they shared 1 class, they barely knew each other. The jury acquitted Dixon of rape, battery
, assault
and false imprisonment
but because Brown was only 16 at the time of the incident found him guilty of statutory rape and aggravated child molestation. Because of this Dixon was convicted at the mandatory
amount under Georgia law, 10 years imprisonment. Ironically, if he had been found guilty of rape, he would have faced a much less severe punishment.
Supporters of Dixon alleged the charges were racially motivated. The President of the Children's Defense Fund
, Marian Wright Edelman
called it a "Legal Lynching
". http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/jets/marcus-dixon-overcomes-molestation-conviction-high-school-racism-long-journey-nfl-ny-jets-article-1.982917
overturned
Dixon's conviction and he was released May 3, 2004. They let his conviction of misdemeanor statutory rape stand. After Dixon's release both he and Brown appeared on Oprah
in an attempt to clarify their stories.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
defensive end
Defensive end
Defensive end is the name of a defensive position in the sport of American and Canadian football.This position has designated the players at each end of the defensive line, but changes in formations have substantially changed how the position is played over the years...
who is currently playing for the New York Jets
New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. He was signed by the Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 2008. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Hampton.
Dixon is also known for being prosecuted in a high-profile court case when, as a high school student, he was convicted in May 2003 for the rape
Rape
Rape is a type of sexual assault usually involving sexual intercourse, which is initiated by one or more persons against another person without that person's consent. The act may be carried out by physical force, coercion, abuse of authority or with a person who is incapable of valid consent. The...
of Kristie Brown, an underage girl. These charges were later overturned and dropped to statutory rape
Statutory rape
The phrase statutory rape is a term used in some legal jurisdictions to describe sexual activities where one participant is below the age required to legally consent to the behavior...
.
Early years
Dixon was a grade A student at Pepperell High School and excelled on the football field to the point where he had been offered a full scholarshipAthletic scholarship
An athletic scholarship is a form of scholarship to attend a college or university awarded to an individual based predominantly on his or her ability to play in a sport...
at Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University is a private research university located in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. Founded in 1873, the university is named for shipping and rail magnate "Commodore" Cornelius Vanderbilt, who provided Vanderbilt its initial $1 million endowment despite having never been to the...
, but due to his court case and conviction he was unable to take on this opportunity.
College career
Upon his release from prison Dixon enrolled at Hampton UniversityHampton University
Hampton University is a historically black university located in Hampton, Virginia, United States. It was founded by black and white leaders of the American Missionary Association after the American Civil War to provide education to freedmen.-History:...
in Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
with a football scholarship.
Dallas Cowboys
On April 27, 2008, Marcus signed a three-year, $1.1 million deal with the Dallas CowboysDallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
as an undrafted free agent. The team released Dixon on September 4, 2010.
New York Jets
On September 5, 2010, Dixon was claimed off waivers by the New York JetsNew York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. An exclusive rights free agent, Dixon was signed to a one-year contract on January 26, 2011.
Dixon v. Brown case
Kristie Brown alleged that on February 10, 2003 Dixon forced her to have sex, taking her virginityVirginity
Virginity refers to the state of a person who has never engaged in sexual intercourse. There are cultural and religious traditions which place special value and significance on this state, especially in the case of unmarried females, associated with notions of personal purity, honor and worth...
. She has stated that contrary to Dixon's supporters' belief she was never Dixon's girlfriend and although they shared 1 class, they barely knew each other. The jury acquitted Dixon of rape, battery
Battery (crime)
Battery is a criminal offense involving unlawful physical contact, distinct from assault which is the fear of such contact.In the United States, criminal battery, or simply battery, is the use of force against another, resulting in harmful or offensive contact...
, assault
Assault
In law, assault is a crime causing a victim to fear violence. The term is often confused with battery, which involves physical contact. The specific meaning of assault varies between countries, but can refer to an act that causes another to apprehend immediate and personal violence, or in the more...
and false imprisonment
False imprisonment
False imprisonment is a restraint of a person in a bounded area without justification or consent. False imprisonment is a common-law felony and a tort. It applies to private as well as governmental detention...
but because Brown was only 16 at the time of the incident found him guilty of statutory rape and aggravated child molestation. Because of this Dixon was convicted at the mandatory
Mandate (criminal law)
A criminal court may impose a "mandate" on a person accused of a crime consisting of an obligation to engage in certain conditions or activities in exchange for suspension or reduction in penalty; such as, conditions of probation, conditional discharges, or other conditional sentences...
amount under Georgia law, 10 years imprisonment. Ironically, if he had been found guilty of rape, he would have faced a much less severe punishment.
Supporters of Dixon alleged the charges were racially motivated. The President of the Children's Defense Fund
Children's Defense Fund
The Children's Defense Fund is an American child advocacy and research group, founded in 1973 by Marian Wright Edelman. Its motto Leave No Child Behind reflects its mission to advocate on behalf of children...
, Marian Wright Edelman
Marian Wright Edelman
Marian Wright Edelman is an American activist for the rights of children. She is president and founder of the Children's Defense Fund.-Early years:...
called it a "Legal Lynching
Lynching
Lynching is an extrajudicial execution carried out by a mob, often by hanging, but also by burning at the stake or shooting, in order to punish an alleged transgressor, or to intimidate, control, or otherwise manipulate a population of people. It is related to other means of social control that...
". http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/jets/marcus-dixon-overcomes-molestation-conviction-high-school-racism-long-journey-nfl-ny-jets-article-1.982917
Overturned conviction and release
Georgia Supreme CourtSupreme court
A supreme court is the highest court within the hierarchy of many legal jurisdictions. Other descriptions for such courts include court of last resort, instance court, judgment court, high court, or apex court...
overturned
Miscarriage of justice
A miscarriage of justice primarily is the conviction and punishment of a person for a crime they did not commit. The term can also apply to errors in the other direction—"errors of impunity", and to civil cases. Most criminal justice systems have some means to overturn, or "quash", a wrongful...
Dixon's conviction and he was released May 3, 2004. They let his conviction of misdemeanor statutory rape stand. After Dixon's release both he and Brown appeared on Oprah
Oprah Winfrey
Oprah Winfrey is an American media proprietor, talk show host, actress, producer and philanthropist. Winfrey is best known for her self-titled, multi-award-winning talk show, which has become the highest-rated program of its kind in history and was nationally syndicated from 1986 to 2011...
in an attempt to clarify their stories.
Further reading
- Arey, Norman. "Teenager's Appeal to High Court to Attack Sentencing Guidelines." Atlanta Journal-Constitution. 20 January 2004 (p. B1).
- Arey, Norman. "Ex-Star Athlete Guilty in Sex Case." Atlanta Journal-Constitution. 16 May 2003 (p. C4).
- Dadigan, Marc. "Dixon Suit Settled for $130,000." Rome News-TribuneRome News-TribuneRome News-Tribune is the local daily newspaper of Rome, Georgia. Begun originally as a weekly newspaper, the paper has survived several merges with other newspapers. Aside from several months during the Civil War, the paper has been published continuously since 1843. It is owned by the News...
. 14 June 2005. - Edelman, Marian Wright. "Old South Lingers in a Legal Lynching." Los Angeles TimesLos Angeles TimesThe Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
. 22 January 2004 (p. B17). - Gregory, Lauren. "Accuser Gets Settlement from System." Rome News-TribuneRome News-TribuneRome News-Tribune is the local daily newspaper of Rome, Georgia. Begun originally as a weekly newspaper, the paper has survived several merges with other newspapers. Aside from several months during the Civil War, the paper has been published continuously since 1843. It is owned by the News...
. 11 June 2005. - Gregory, Lauren. "Marcus Dixon Movie Possible." Rome News-TribuneRome News-TribuneRome News-Tribune is the local daily newspaper of Rome, Georgia. Begun originally as a weekly newspaper, the paper has survived several merges with other newspapers. Aside from several months during the Civil War, the paper has been published continuously since 1843. It is owned by the News...
. 11 June 2005. - Jacobs, Andrew. "Student Sex Case in Georgia Stirs Claims of Old South Justice." New York Times. 22 January 2004
- Milloy, Courtland. "Marcus Dixon Doesn't Belong In Ga. Prison." Washington Post. 25 January 2004 (p. C1).
- Wooten, Jim. "Home Life, Not Racism, the Problem." Atlanta Journal-Constitution. 27 January 2004 (p. A9).
- Associated PressAssociated PressThe Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
. "Floyd County Schools Ask Federal Court to Throw Out Lawsuit in School Statutory Rape Case." 12 September 2003. - Associated PressAssociated PressThe Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
. "Georgia High Court Overturns Teen's Sentence for Having Sex with Minor." CNN.com 3 May 2004.