ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, January 12, 1997 TAG: 9701140022
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: METRO
TYPE: NFL NOTES
SOURCE: FROM ASSOCIATED PRESS REPORTS
Dallas offensive lineman Erik Williams may sue the former topless dancer who accused him of raping her while Cowboys teammate Michael Irvin held a gun to her head, Williams' lawyer said Saturday.
``It was clearly a set-up,'' attorney Peter Ginsberg said. ``The task that remains is determining who set whom up, the motives for doing that and whether the police were innocently used or more egregiously involved.''
Nina Shahravan, 23, filed a police report Dec. 30 accusing Williams and a third man who never was identified of raping her at Williams' home the previous night while Irvin videotaped parts of the encounter and held a gun to her head.
On Friday, police dropped the investigation after having ``determined conclusively that the allegations are not true and that a sexual assault did not take place.''
Williams and Irvin denied the allegations from the start and never were charged.
Police said they were considering charges of filing a false police report against Shahravan. If convicted, she could face up to six months in jail and a $2,000 fine.
Shahravan declined to comment as she left police headquarters Friday. Later, someone at her Mesquite, Texas, home would not open the door to reporters.
A message left Saturday at her parents' home in Plano, Texas, was not acknowledged.
Ginsberg said Shahravan recanted the allegations after police presented her with evidence there was no sexual attack and Irvin was not at Williams' home that night. Several Dallas media outlets also reported Shahravan signed a confession admitting the hoax.
Shahravan's estranged husband, Hooman Baghestani, said publicly during the investigation that he doubted her story.
He said she had falsely accused him and a previous fiance of sexual assault. No charges were filed against either man.
``I wasn't surprised as far as the outcome, but I am surprised that she came out and admitted to lying,'' Baghestani said Saturday, referring to broadcast reports she had recanted.
Ginsberg said he expects police to investigate whether Shahravan was ``in cahoots with anyone else who may have helped manipulate the situation.''
Attorney Royce West, while not saying whether Irvin planned to sue Shahravan, said anyone who makes up a story about his client in the future would wind up in court.
``Whomever decides to bring false accusations against Mr. Irvin again can expect us to retaliate in terms of using the legal system in order to seek restitution for damages done,'' West said.
Williams and Irvin have both had past run-ins with the law. Williams was accused of sexually assaulting a 17-year-old girl, but a grand jury in 1995 refused to indict him, citing insufficient evidence. The girl reached a civil settlement with Williams and asked that he not be prosecuted.
Irvin is in the first year of a four-year probation for felony cocaine possession.
In other NFL news:
LIONS HIRE ROSS: Bobby Ross has agreed to a five-year contract to coach the Detroit Lions, The Associated Press learned.
An NFL source confirmed late Saturday what NBC-TV had reported earlier in the day, that the former San Diego Chargers coach had agreed to a contract with the Lions. The contract is for five years at $1.5 million to $2 million per year.
The NBC report, which did not cite a source, said Ross would have substantial control over player-personnel decisions with the Lions.
Ross' lawyer, Jack Reale, said Ross had made a decision, but he refused to elaborate. Ross could not be immediately reached. Reports had indicated Ross preferred the Detroit job, even though he had spoken to other NFL teams and been courted by his alma mater, VMI.
Ross, 60, resigned as San Diego's coach Jan.3 after five seasons, citing philosophical differences with Chargers general manager Bobby Beathard.
Detroit finished 5-11 in 1996 under Wayne Fontes, who was fired in December.
Ross was 50-36 with the Chargers and led them to one Super Bowl. Before coaching San Diego, he guided Georgia Tech to a share of the national championship in 1990.
LENGTH: Medium: 84 lines KEYWORDS: FOOTBALLby CNB