Gareon Conley Has Lawsuit Filed Against Him by Rape Accuser

The woman who said Gareon Conley raped her in a Cleveland hotel in 2017 has filed a lawsuit against the Oakland Raiders cornerback, according to TMZ Sports. 

According to the lawsuit, the woman said Conley "physically touched and engaged in the sexual contact" and "sexually assaulted, battered and raped" her in the hotel after they met at a nearby bar.

Conley, who was neither arrested or charged with a crime, has denied the accusation.

The lawsuit—which has also named Conley's management group, the Vantage Management Group, and the Westin Hotel as defendants and is seeking "compensatory and punitive damages"—added that the woman "sustained serious physical, psychological, emotional and mental injuries."

According to Dan DeRoos of Cleveland19.com, she is seeking $25,000 from each party named in the lawsuit.

The hotel is named in the lawsuit because the woman said after she left her hotel room she "reported that an assault had taken place in the hotel" but the "Westin staff did not provide necessary assistance" to her nor "conduct any investigation."

Conley said that the sex was consensual.

In late July, the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor in charge of the potential case, Michael C. O'Malley, said in a statement (h/t Austin Knoblauch of NFL.com): "After a thorough investigation by the Cleveland Police Department, the facts and circumstances surrounding the allegations of sexual assault against Gareon Conley were presented to a Cuyahoga County Grand Jury. The Grand Jury returned a No Bill on all possible charges."

Conley then released his own statement:

"I am thankful that this burden has been lifted as I enter training camp with my new teammates and organization. I am thankful to the City of Cleveland and the Cleveland police for reaching a conclusion based on the facts, not speculation. I am thankful to the Raiders organization for believing in me, drafting me and supporting me. Finally, I am thankful to my agent and my team for never relenting in their defense of me as a person and client.

"The past few months have been extremely trying for me and my family. Although I was the target of malicious and false accusations, I do realize, however, that I could've exercised better judgment and that there are still lessons for me to take away and grow from."

Conley, 22, appeared in just two games for the Raiders in 2017, registering seven tackles. Shin issues kept him sidelined for the majority of his rookie season.