Mississippi Criminal Law BlogA rookie player for the Philadelphia Eagles has been indicted on rape and kidnapping charges, according to Dave Zangaro with NBC Sports. The Eagles player, offensive lineman Josh Sills, was signed by the Eagles as an undrafted free agent out of Oklahoma State this past spring and is just finishing up his rookie season in the NFL. Sills played in just one game this season. He has been inactive for the Eagles’ two playoff games this season.
Sills was indicted by a Guernsey County (Ohio) Common Pleas Court grand jury on one count of rape and one count of kidnapping at the age of 25. Both charges are first-degree felonies. According to a press release from the Ohio Attorney General’s office, these charges stem from an incident that occurred in December 2019. The indictment says, “Sills engaged in sexual activity that was not consensual and held a victim against her will. The crime was immediately reported, and the Guernsey County Sheriff’s Office conducted a detailed investigation.” Sills has been placed on the Commissioner Exempt List by the NFL. While on the list, he will not be permitted to practice, play, or travel with the Eagles, but he will still be paid. Before the NFL placed Sills on this list, the Eagles released the following statement: “The organization is aware of the legal matter involving Josh Sills. We have been in communication with the league office and are in the process of gathering more information. We have no further comment at this time.”
The details of the incident from the alleged victim are graphic and some may find them triggering. A woman told police that a male, whom she later identified as Sills, dropped her and her cousin off at her cousin’s place, where they were staying. According to the woman, after her cousin exited the vehicle, Sills grabbed her by her ponytail and tried to kiss her. When another vehicle pulled up behind them, he grabbed her by her neck, throwing her down and getting on top of her so no one would see. The woman stated that she repeatedly told Sills to stop and to let her go inside, but he forced her to perform oral sex on him. The woman identified the man who did this to her as Sills, someone she had gone to high school with and has known for 7 or 8 years.
According to a police report, an officer was dispatched to the Southeastern Ohio Regional Medical Center Emergency Room the night of December 5, 2019. The officer took photos of the woman’s neck and face since she stated that she had been grabbed several times. A nurse at the hospital also informed the officer that she found bruising on the back of the patient’s throat, inner lip, on her right ear, and the back of her knee. Despite this, Sills aggressively contests the charges. Michael Connick, Sills’ lawyer, told the Philadelphia Inquirer that the allegations against his client were false.
Being charged with a sex-crime, such as the one Sills is being charged with, can be detrimental, regardless of the validity of the claims. There could be damage to your reputation, your career, your family, and you may have to register as a sex-offender. If you’ve been charged with a crime of this nature in Mississippi and don’t know what to do, you need to immediately seek the help of an attorney. Luckily Mississippi has one of the nation’s best criminal defense firms right here in Jackson—Vic Carmody Jr., P.A.
Enlist the Help of a Qualified Attorney
When you are searching the state of Mississippi for a qualified, experienced sex crime defense attorney, look no further than Vic Carmody Jr., P.A. No matter the circumstances of your case, the sooner you get in touch with a qualified criminal defense attorney, the better chance you have for a favorable outcome. Over the years, we have helped numerous offenders who have been charged with sex crimes. Please call us for a free consultation today, and we can help you defend yourself when you are arrested and charged with a sex crime in Mississippi.
Please also see us on mississippi-lawyers.com and view our reviews on avvo.com, superlawyers.com, and martindale.com. Our email address is vic@mississippi-lawyers.com, and our office phone number is (601) 948 – 4444 option 1.