Suspended Illini Star Shannon Files Suit, Seeks Reinstatement

CHAMPAIGN, IL — Suspended University of Illinois men’s basketball player Terrence Shannon, Jr., has filed suit against the school’s Board of Trustees in which he accuses school officials of ruining his career for presuming him to be guilty in connection with rape charges filed against the Illini star.

The school announced that Shannon, the Illini’s leading scorer this season, was indefinitely suspended just before New Year’s in connection with the rape allegations. In a complaint seeking immediate reinstatement filed in Champaign County Circuit Court, attorneys for Shannon named the Board of Trustees as defendants in the legal action.

“Does the presumption of innocence really mean nothing?” the suit filed on Monday states. “That question is at the heart of this case. Illinois has promised (Shannon) that it would adhere to this presumption, but in practice, Illinois has not applied it by suspending (Shannon) and ruining his career as though he were already convicted.”

The legal action states that Shannon presumes his innocence and characterizes sexual assault as a “horrible crime.” The complaint says that Shannon is appalled that his name is connected to the allegations and states that he has no criminal history and no history of disciplinary problems.

Yet, the complaint states that the university has served as judge, jury, and executioner in suspending Shannon and says the school has not afforded the star guard and projected NBA Lottery pick due process. Shannon’s attorneys claim that the school has denied his rights by suspending him “so long” after first knowing that Shannon was the target of a criminal investigation.

The complaint says that Shannon has the ascertainable right in his basketball career and is in need of protection. It also states that Shannon’s career will be ruined if the suspension continues, which – the complaint says – trounces on his business interests.

The lawsuit said that a financial judgment would be inadequate as “one cannot put a number the destruction of a promising career at this early stage of it.”

Illinois Athletic Director Josh Whitman told reporters that the school was made aware of allegations against the star player, who is accused of inappropriately touching a woman while in Kansas for a football game. Whitman said school officials learned there was a warrant out for Shannon’s arrest via social media.

Shannon was charged with "unlawfully, feloniously, and knowingly engaged in sexual intercourse with a person ... who did not consent to the sexual intercourse under circumstances when she was overcome by force or fear, a severity level 1 person felony."

"The university and [the Division of Intercollegiate Athletics] have shown time and again that we have zero tolerance for sexual misconduct," Whitman said in a statement after Shannon was suspended by the school. "At the same time, DIA policy affords student-athletes appropriate levels of due process based on the nature and severity of the allegations. We will rely on that policy and our prior experiences to manage this situation appropriately for the university and the involved parties."

The lawsuit filed on Monday said that the school has indicated it will not reconsider Shannon’s status with the Illini until his case is resolved, meaning he would miss the remainder of the season.