Florida quarterback Winston set for conduct hearing on rape accusation

Florida State University star quarterback Jameis Winston, accused of raping a female student nearly two years ago, faced a student conduct code hearing on Tuesday, the accuser's lawyers told the Tallahassee Democrat.

Winston, who won the Heisman Trophy last year as the nation's top college player, is accused of violating the university's standards during the December 2012 incident, which his attorneys have maintained was a consensual sexual encounter.

A Florida state attorney determined last year there was insufficient evidence to file criminal charges against Winston, a sophomore, in the case.

However, a conduct code violation requires a significantly lower burden of proof. Former Florida Supreme Court Justice Major Harding could find up to four parts of the code were violated.

If Winston is found to have violated the school's code of conduct he could receive discipline ranging from a reprimand to expulsion, according to The Sports Xchange news service.

"This courageous young woman finally gets the chance to stand up for herself and against Mr. Winston and big time college sports which has long run over the rights and protection of women on campus," said John Clune, one of the female accuser's attorneys, in a statement.

An attorney representing Winston could not immediately be reached for comment.

In a recent series of off-field incidents, Winston was benched earlier this season for shouting obscenities in the student union plaza, for which he later apologized, and was cited for shoplifting seafood from a grocery store.

The allegations have overshadowed a winning season for the Florida State Seminoles, coming as the National Football League faces criticism for its handling of domestic violence and other abuse by its players.

The U.S. Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights is also investigating Florida State's handling of the case.

Reuters