Amir Riep
<p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">In 2020, officers charged former Ohio State University standout football players <strong>Amir Riep</strong> and his teammate <strong>Jahsen Wint</strong> with two counts of rape and <a href="https://dev.theshaderoom.com/watch-four-americans-kidnapped-at-gunpoint-on-video-in-mexico-following-shootout/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">one count of kidnapping</a> after a 19-year-old woman told authorities the athletes raped her.</span></p>
<p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Accused of rape by a white woman, the head coach kicked the two young, black NFL hopefuls off the team a day after encountering the unidentified woman. The two were later found not guilty of all charges in February of 2023.</span></p>
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<p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">After waiting for three years to prove their innocence, the former roommates are putting their lives back together again. The now 24-year-old Amir Riep exclusively shared with<em> The Shade Room</em> how he plans to move forward and how his father&#8217;s support made a difference before his passing.</span></p>
<h3 style="text-align: center;"><strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true">How Did Riep Meet The Unidentified Woman?</span></strong></h3>
<p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Meeting the unidentified woman on Snapchat, Riep and the young lady decided to meet at the apartment he shared with Wint, where things would eventually turn sexual.</span></p>
<p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Prosecutors say she expected to hang out with Riep at the off-campus apartment but was allegedly forced into continuing sex with the Cincinnati native after initially consenting and <a href="https://www.nbc4i.com/news/local-news/columbus/victim-testifies-in-rape-trial-of-former-ohio-state-football-players/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Wint joining in</a>, which authorities failed to convince a jury to believe. </span></p>
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<p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">After being driven home by Riep, the alleged sexual assault victim went to authorities to report a rape, something the defensive backs were adamant didn&#8217;t occur.</span></p>
<h3 style="text-align: center;"><strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Riep Realizing He Could Possibly Go To Jail</span></strong></h3>
<p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">A week after the incident, the players were told to turn themselves in and were dismissed from the team. </span></p>
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<blockquote><p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">I knew it was getting serious when they [player personnel] told us we had to call our parents and that we had to turn ourselves in.</span></p></blockquote>
<h3 style="text-align: center;"><strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Riep On Not Wanting A Plea Deal</span></strong></h3>
<blockquote><p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">That was never a question. I told my lawyer don&#8217;t give me a deal. I&#8217;m not signing anything. We gon&#8217; ride this out all the way to trial. </span></p>
<p> ;</p>
<p> ;</p></blockquote>
<p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Continuing to speak, Riep opened up about his faith. He stated that was &#8220;an area I had to grow in.&#8221; </span></p>
<blockquote><p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Without that, it would&#8217;ve taken a greater toll on me. Being patient, trusting the process, and believing that he [God] will find a way and his way is better than anything we can imagine.</span></p></blockquote>
<h3 style="text-align: center;"><strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Support From Family &; Friends</span></strong></h3>
<p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Being in jail for three days before being released on bond, Riep stated his most prominent supporters and only support were his now deceased father and his family.</span></p>
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<blockquote><p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">My biggest supporter was my dad. I had to tell him first. He supported me the whole way, and my family supported me. If anything, we came closer together to take this on together.</span></p></blockquote>
<h3 style="text-align: center;"><strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Does Riep Feel Race Played A Role?</span></strong></h3>
<p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">According to Ohio State University&#8217;s website, there are nearly 62,000 students on campus, with less than 5,000 being Black.</span></p>
<p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">On whether he felt race played a role, Riep stated:</span></p>
<blockquote><p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Sadly, Yes. But definitely, that image and title people try to give a football player that goes to Ohio State. They think we feel we can do anything and get away with it. If we weren&#8217;t two Ohio State football players on our way to do great things, it wouldn&#8217;t have gotten that much attention or [as] far as ours did.</span></p></blockquote>
<h3 style="text-align: center;"><strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Preparing For The NFL &; What&#8217;s Next</span></strong></h3>
<p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Putting the past behind him, the NFL hopeful keeps his eyes on the prize.</span></p>
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<p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">&#8220;That&#8217;s the main goal,&#8221; he says, referring to the NFL. He explains that he&#8217;s an athlete who wants to continue his education and sports career at another school and has entered the transfer portal to switch schools.</span></p>
<blockquote><p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">I was in there [transfer portal], and coaches were waiting on this situation to be done. [I&#8217;ve] been on hold this whole time, not able to do anything, enroll anywhere or anything. The only thing I could do [was] stay ready for this time. </span></p>
<p> ;</p>
<p> ;</p></blockquote>
<p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">He also stated:</span></p>
<blockquote><p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">We&#8217;re in contact with several schools right now. Getting back on board, getting a degree, continuing the football career collegiately, and ending up in the NFL. Riep continued, I&#8217;ll be enrolling somewhere in the summer. We have summer training and all of that, so I&#8217;ll be in school by then.</span></p></blockquote>
<h3 style="text-align: center;"><strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true">People&#8217;s Perception Since Being Accused &; Found Not Guilty</span></strong></h3>
<blockquote><p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">I had to prove my innocence. I&#8217;ve been with my head high because I already knew the truth. So, I don&#8217;t let those things get to me, especially when I know the truth.</span></p></blockquote>
<h3 style="text-align: center;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Friendship With Jahsen Wint</span></h3>
<p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Although unable to talk to Wint for three years, Riep states they now speak daily and laugh, enjoying getting back those moments of friendship.</span></p>
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<h3 style="text-align: center;"><strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Describing That Period Of His Life In One Word</span></strong></h3>
<blockquote><p><span data-preserver-spaces="true"><strong>Rollercoaster</strong>. That incline at the beginning, right before you get to that peak, you think you&#8217;re about to get everything you wanted, the rollercoaster goes down, left, right, and it goes all ways.</span></p></blockquote>
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