Syracuse Ex-Footballer Who Admitted To Rape Avoids Jail

A former defensive end for Syracuse University's football team dodged jail time after admitting to rape, according to reports. The ex-footballer confessed to partaking in non-consensual sexual intercourse with two women in July 2015.

Amir Ealey, 20, pleaded guilty Friday to third-degree rape and declined his trial, which was slated for Monday. Ealey will be sentenced to a 10-year probation and is required to register as a sex offender. He was first arrested after the sexual assault accusations surfaced in March 2016.

Ealey's original charges were more severe. He was indicted on a first-degree rape charge after being accused of allegedly using physical force on one of the victims, Syracuse.com reported Friday. Ealey would have faced a prison sentence of up to 25 years if he had been convicted of first-degree rape.

Third-degree rape is considered to be a Class E felony, which could result in up to 4 years in prison. The violator would also be plagued with up to $5,000 in fines. Prosecutors had discussed the plea agreement ahead of Friday's hearing with the victims, who agreed to the terms of Ealey's punishment, according to a Friday report from Syracuse's collegiate newspaper the Daily Orange.

"They feel strongly that justice has been served," Maureen Barry, an assistant prosecutor, told the Daily Orange Friday.

Ealey, a Philadelphia resident, will serve his probation sentence on January 10, 2018. He will remain in Philadelphia when his probation period begins.

Ealey played seven games as Syracuse football team's defensive end before he was permanently removed for an unrelated offense. Ealey, alongside fellow teammate Qaadir Sheppard, was dismissed from the college football team for failing to pass two drug tests. Two drug-related offenses call for a player's indefinite suspension from all practices and games.

The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) does not enforce drug tests for student athletes. However, Colleges that choose to administer drug tests are recommended to follow NCAA's guidelines and regulations.

"The NCAA is committed to [the] prevention of drug and alcohol abuse," NCAA stated on its website. "NCAA bylaws require the director of athletics or his or her designee to educate student-athletes about NCAA banned substances and the products that may contain them."

"As a best practice, athletics departments should conduct drug and alcohol-education for all athletics teams, target student-athletes who transfer mid-year, and include athletics administrators, coaches, compliance officers and sports medicine personnel," the organization added.

Stimulants, alcohol, street/illicit drugs, diuretics and anabolic agents are among a long list of drugs banned by the NCAA.