Jury selection began on Monday for the trial of Terrence Shannon Jr., a 23-year-old University of Illinois basketball player, accused of sexual assault in Lawrence, Kan. He is accused of grabbing a woman’s buttocks and penetrating her vagina with his finger. The incident took place at a bar near the University of Kansas campus in September.
Shannon is facing charges of rape or aggravated sexual battery. He denies the allegations which arose during a trip he took with two others to Lawrence to watch a football game between the Illini and Jayhawks.
During jury selection, Shannon, dressed in a dark-blue suit, sat quietly as prosecutors questioned a pool of potential jurors. Some jurors were excluded due to negative views on police and concerns about past experiences with sex crimes.
People are also reading…
This trial is seen as a test of the criminal justice system’s handling of high-profile athletes accused of sex crimes. The district attorney’s office under Suzanne Valdez, who has faced criticism in the past, is under scrutiny. Shannon’s legal team has already won a court victory overturning his university suspension, citing violation of due process rights.
Shannon’s future in the NBA could depend on the outcome of the trial. His performance as an All-Big Ten player has garnered attention, but his draft prospects may be impacted by the trial’s conclusion.
