Katina Powell, the center of the Louisville basketball recruiting sex scandal, and her accomplice as well as former Louisville player and staff member Andre McGee were brought before a grand jury today to begin the hearing on the criminal case against them. Special thanks to our good friend Jason Riley over at WDRB for providing us with updates as the hearing proceeded.
NEW: Jefferson County grand jury hearing evidence in Katina Powell, Andre McGee casehttps://t.co/eePAuGtGy8
— Jason Riley (@JasonRileyWDRB) May 25, 2017
I'm hearing prosecutors are hearing evidence on THREE people in Katina Powell sex scandal. Powell, Andre McGee & ??https://t.co/eePAuGtGy8
— Jason Riley (@JasonRileyWDRB) May 25, 2017
Grand jury took a break a little bit ago. I expect a decision today, but you never know how long they take. Subpoenas first issued 2015
— Jason Riley (@JasonRileyWDRB) May 25, 2017
No indictment against Katina Powell
— Jason Riley (@JasonRileyWDRB) May 25, 2017
No indictment against Andre McGee
— Jason Riley (@JasonRileyWDRB) May 25, 2017
Press release on grand jury declining to indict Andre McGee and Katina Powell pic.twitter.com/31TbfRSvbn
— Jason Riley (@JasonRileyWDRB) May 25, 2017
Grand jury agreed with advice of the Commonwealth’s Attorney office that there is currently insufficient evidence to bring criminal charges
— Jason Riley (@JasonRileyWDRB) May 25, 2017
Prosecutor: None of the recruits were able to confirm any payments had been made to the women by McGee or anyone else.
— Jason Riley (@JasonRileyWDRB) May 25, 2017
Prosecutor: Nor could the recruits positively identify any of the women with whom they had sexual contact.
— Jason Riley (@JasonRileyWDRB) May 25, 2017
Prosecutors "concluded that there simply was not the legally required independent corroboration of the allegations made in Powell’s book"
— Jason Riley (@JasonRileyWDRB) May 25, 2017
Prosecutor: Kentucky law requires that a confession of a defendant, unless made in open court, will not support a conviction w/out evidence
— Jason Riley (@JasonRileyWDRB) May 25, 2017
Attorney for Katina Powell: We are very happy that the grand jury decided not to indict so Katina Powell can move forward with her life …"
— Jason Riley (@JasonRileyWDRB) May 25, 2017
Katina Powell Att Bart McMahon: "And the community at large and university can move forward. We’re just happy to put the matter to rest"
— Jason Riley (@JasonRileyWDRB) May 25, 2017
Attorney Bart McMahon said Katina Powell will still have to address a civil lawsuit against her. https://t.co/JIMfOvlbuA
— Jason Riley (@JasonRileyWDRB) May 25, 2017
Scott C. Cox, attorney for Andre McGee, has declined to comment.
— Jason Riley (@JasonRileyWDRB) May 25, 2017
Prosecutor: Once it was determined that no under-aged girls were used, the investigation focused on prostitution … other possible charges
— Jason Riley (@JasonRileyWDRB) May 25, 2017
Prosecutor: All of the women identified in the book denied having sexual contact with any of the recruits or receiving payment for sex acts.
— Jason Riley (@JasonRileyWDRB) May 25, 2017
Commonwealth's Attorney Tom Wine is clearly not saying this DIDN'T happen. He is saying prosecutors did not have enough evidence to prove it
— Jason Riley (@JasonRileyWDRB) May 25, 2017
Commonwealth's Attorney Tom Wine speaking to reporters soon about grand jury decision not to indict Powell or McGeehttps://t.co/ySBmJYZlK3
— Jason Riley (@JasonRileyWDRB) May 25, 2017
Wine: Additional info may develop "but we don't see that on the horizon right now"
— Jason Riley (@JasonRileyWDRB) May 25, 2017
Wine: Prosecutors made recommendation to grand jury not to indict McGee or Powell. "Grand jury agreed with our assessment"
— Jason Riley (@JasonRileyWDRB) May 25, 2017
Wine: It is not unusual for prosecutors to make a recommendation to grand jury. Still up to jurors to decide.
— Jason Riley (@JasonRileyWDRB) May 25, 2017
Prosecutor Chris Foster: "We can't prosecute Ms. Powell just based on this book."
— Jason Riley (@JasonRileyWDRB) May 25, 2017
Katina Powell did not speak to police. Andre McGee gave "very little" information.
— Jason Riley (@JasonRileyWDRB) May 25, 2017
Prosecutor: "We're not going to prosecute people because there was dancing going on." Could not prove claims of exchange of money.
— Jason Riley (@JasonRileyWDRB) May 25, 2017
Prosecutor: Was proof of "one wire transfer" but that was not enough evidence for criminal charges.
— Jason Riley (@JasonRileyWDRB) May 25, 2017
Wine: There is no question recruits were having sex. But they are all over 16. Recruits said they didn't pay any money.
— Jason Riley (@JasonRileyWDRB) May 25, 2017
Wine: "We couldn't show the prostitution angle of all this." Powell's daughter was thought initially to be a minor based on book. Not true
— Jason Riley (@JasonRileyWDRB) May 25, 2017
Prosecutor: "There is a problem with (Powell's) consistency."
— Jason Riley (@JasonRileyWDRB) May 25, 2017
Wine: Only evidence against Andre McGee was Katina Powell and "if we can't trust Powell …"
— Jason Riley (@JasonRileyWDRB) May 25, 2017
UPDATE: Prosecutor said it was clear that recruits were having sex with women, but unable to prove exchange of moneyhttps://t.co/JIMfOv3A60
— Jason Riley (@JasonRileyWDRB) May 25, 2017
