Long Beach Unified Sues Brian Banks Accuser For $2M
LONG BEACH (CBSLA.com) — A Long Beach woman who falsely accused football standout Brian Banks of sexual assault is facing legal action and possible criminal charges.
KNX 1070's Ron Kilgore reports Wanetta Gibson first came forward with the accusations when Banks was a football standout at Long Beach Poly High.
Long Beach Unified Sues, Wants Charges Brought Against Brian Banks Accuser
Banks had already signed a letter of intent to play for the University of Southern California when Gibson accused him of assaulting her during his sophomore year in June 2001.
Despite denying any wrongdoing, Banks pleaded no contest to rape and was sentenced to six years in state prison in order to avoid a potential sentence of as much as 41 years behind bars.
Gibson received a $1.5 million settlement from the Long Beach Unified School District after her mother sued the district for lack of security at the time of the alleged rape.
In 2011, Gibson told a private investigator during a videotaped interview that the sexual assault never happened, and last May, a judge overturned the rape conviction against Banks after he served five years in prison.
The school district has sued Gibson for $2 million to recoup what she was paid plus attorney's fees and punitive damages.
In a statement, the school district says it also urged the Los Angeles County District Attorney's office to pursue criminal charges against Gibson.
But efforts to locate Gibson - who, according to news reports, has received public assistance - have so far been unsuccessful.
Earlier this month, Banks finally realized his childhood dream of playing professional football after signing a contract to play for the Atlanta Falcons.
