By Kendria Brown, NDG Intern
An athletic football star in high school, Brian Banks was potentially going to play pro-ball for NFL until he was sent to prison for a crime the “victim” now admits he never committed.
A high school friend, Wanetta Gibson, accused Banks of raping her. Knowing he was innocent, Banks followed the advice of his lawyer and entered a plea of “no contest.” As a result, he was sent to prison where he stayed for more than five years.
After being released from prison, Gibson befriended Banks through Facebook. It was here that Gibson acknowledged to Banks that she lied about rape charge. She even offered to clear his name and help get his name cleared. Gibson’s only worry was if she would have to pay back the money she received through lawsuit with the school and settlement over the rape case. So she begin to back peddle on her offer to help because of the money and fear that she would charged for a crime as a result of her lies.
In the end, the two met and Banks secretly recorded Gibson’s acknowledgement of her lying. When this information was presented before a judge he was cleared. Banks burst into tears when his rape charge was dismissed.
His plans are to give the NFL another try and file civil suit against California for his time spent in prison.
