National Football League
Report: Meriweather's home site of rape
National Football League

Report: Meriweather's home site of rape

Published Sep. 13, 2011 1:00 a.m. ET

A man has been charged with raping a woman at the Massachusetts home of Chicago Bears safety Brandon Meriweather, The Sun Chronicle reported Tuesday.

Meriweather, who was released unexpectedly by the New England Patriots at the end of training camp after starting for the past four seasons, has not been charged in the case and it is unclear from the report whether he was present at the time.

The man, identified by authorities as 29-year-old James Roberts of Biloxi, Miss., was released on $10,000 bail, and is scheduled to appear in court Sept. 20, according to The Sun Chronicle.

Police said the alleged incident occurred July 13 at Meriweather's home in Foxborough, Mass., a town 35 miles from Boston where the Patriots play home games. Roberts pleaded not guilty at his arraignment Aug. 25, a spokesman for the Norfolk County district attorney said.

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It is the second off-field incident linked to the 27-year-old Meriweather to occur in 2011. In February he was questioned by police about a shooting in his hometown of Apopka, Fla., in which two men were injured.

Meriweather was found to have been present during the altercation, but was ultimately not charged with a crime.

Meriweather was drafted by New England in 2007 out of Miami and was named to the Pro Bowl the past two seasons. He was picked up by the Bears one day after being cut by the Patriots.

He recorded two tackles Sunday in the Bears' 30-12 win over the Atlanta Falcons, but did not start.

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