The Dre Era
09-16-2010, 09:41 AM
GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Florida Gators wide receiver, Chris Rainey, was arrested overnight for allegedly sending a text message to his girlfriend threatening to kill her.
Rainey, 22, was charged with aggravated stalking, a 3rd degree felony, and was released from the Alachua County Jail on his own recognizance Tuesday.
He was ordered to have no contact with the alleged victim.
The alleged victim was in court with her mother and sister.
The woman told Judge Denise R. Ferrero she did not fear Rainey but was concerned about retribution from the public following all the media attention.
She asked for the charges to be dropped.
"I did not want to have him arrested," she said. "When the police came, I signed papers to not press any charges. I don't fear for my safety... People all over the country have been calling my cell phone. I'm not afraid of him. I'm more afraid of all the repercussions."
Rainey was suspended indefinitely Tuesday following his arrest.
Florida coach Urban Meyer says there is no timetable for Rainey to possibly return to the team.
Meyer says "it's just further evaluation as we go. As of the immediacy of it, he's not with us."
Rainey has just six catches for 34 yards and a touchdown this season, and Meyer says his team can fill that void.
According to a police report, Rainey sent a series of text messages to his girlfriend while she was sleeping that began by saying, "You don't care about me."
When she told him to go to bed and leave her alone, he allegedly went to her home and continued to text and call her.
The police reports states that she sent him a message that said, "I will not open the door," and he continued to threaten her for several minutes texting the message "Time to die" to her, according to CBS affiliate WTEV.
Police say that when they went to Rainey's residence, he admitted sending her the text messages and going to her home.
Rainey, a junior from Lakeland, Fla., has six receptions and a touchdown this season.
He's also the team's primary punt returner. He missed the second half of Saturday's game against South Florida with a concussion.
Rainey, 22, was charged with aggravated stalking, a 3rd degree felony, and was released from the Alachua County Jail on his own recognizance Tuesday.
He was ordered to have no contact with the alleged victim.
The alleged victim was in court with her mother and sister.
The woman told Judge Denise R. Ferrero she did not fear Rainey but was concerned about retribution from the public following all the media attention.
She asked for the charges to be dropped.
"I did not want to have him arrested," she said. "When the police came, I signed papers to not press any charges. I don't fear for my safety... People all over the country have been calling my cell phone. I'm not afraid of him. I'm more afraid of all the repercussions."
Rainey was suspended indefinitely Tuesday following his arrest.
Florida coach Urban Meyer says there is no timetable for Rainey to possibly return to the team.
Meyer says "it's just further evaluation as we go. As of the immediacy of it, he's not with us."
Rainey has just six catches for 34 yards and a touchdown this season, and Meyer says his team can fill that void.
According to a police report, Rainey sent a series of text messages to his girlfriend while she was sleeping that began by saying, "You don't care about me."
When she told him to go to bed and leave her alone, he allegedly went to her home and continued to text and call her.
The police reports states that she sent him a message that said, "I will not open the door," and he continued to threaten her for several minutes texting the message "Time to die" to her, according to CBS affiliate WTEV.
Police say that when they went to Rainey's residence, he admitted sending her the text messages and going to her home.
Rainey, a junior from Lakeland, Fla., has six receptions and a touchdown this season.
He's also the team's primary punt returner. He missed the second half of Saturday's game against South Florida with a concussion.