Former Vanderbilt Football Players Granted Mistrial After Rape Conviction

Former Vanderbilt football players Brandon Vandenburg and Cory Batey were granted a mistrial by Nashville Criminal Court Judge Monte Watkins after one juror failed to reveal that he was a victim in a statutory rape case, per Stacey Barchenger of the Tennessean.  

On June 24, the pair were released on bond, with the stipulation that both men wear GPS monitors and check in with bondsmen once a week, according to Paul H.B. Shin of ABC.com. 

Vandenburg, 22, and Batey, 21, were convicted of multiple counts of aggravated rape and aggravated sexual battery, among other charges, in January. Their defense attorneys, however, maintained that the juror in question failed to disclose that he was the victim of a statutory rape in the hope that he would be put on the jury and that his history in such a case affected his ability to be impartial.

Despite protestations from the prosecution, Judge Watkins sided with the defense.

"The defendants have a right to a fair and impartial trial, a right that was violated by juror No. 9's conduct," the judge's order read, per Barchenger.

The defense is expected to request that both men be granted bonds after the judge's ruling.