Post by selanne405 on Jan 4, 2010 11:37:54 GMT -5
tsn.ca/cfl/story/?id=304683
REGINA - The general manager of the Saskatchewan Roughriders has pleaded guilty to sexual assault involving a teenage girl.
Eric Tillman's trial at the provincial courthouse in Regina was to begin Monday.
Tillman, who helped lead the Riders to the Grey Cup championship in 2007, has been on paid administrative leave from the Canadian Football League club.
He was charged last February after a complaint by a 16-year-old girl who alleged he sexually assaulted the previous summer.
When the charge was first laid, the married father of two suggested there was more to the story and said he would rely on the justice system to air the facts.
The charge was to proceed on a summary basis, meaning it was considered less serious than an indictable offence.
Tillman was hired by the Roughriders in August 2006 and led the team to a Grey Cup the following season.
He hired head coach Kent Austin before the 2007 season, cut the club's payroll to meet the CFL's salary cap and worked to clean up the team's image after several players were charged over off-field incidents.
Months prior to Tillman's hiring, Trevis Smith, who was a former linebacker with the team, was charged with two counts of aggravated sexual assault after two women complained he exposed them to HIV without telling them he had the virus.
In February 2007, Smith was found guilty and received a five-year jail sentence. He was granted parole early last year and was deported to the United States.
But Smith wasn't the only Roughrider to get into trouble with the law. Between 1999 and 2007, more than a few players made headlines for everything ranging from drug possession to assault.
Tillman has enjoyed great success in the CFL as a general manager. He led the B.C. Lions and Toronto Argonauts to Grey Cup titles in 1994 and 1997, respectively, and has worked as a television analyst with TSN and Sportsnet.
Tillman also served as the general manager of the expansion Ottawa Renegades for three seasons before returning to broadcasting and ultimately landing the post with the Riders.
In July 2008, the Riders rewarded Tillman with a contract extension through 2010.
REGINA - The general manager of the Saskatchewan Roughriders has pleaded guilty to sexual assault involving a teenage girl.
Eric Tillman's trial at the provincial courthouse in Regina was to begin Monday.
Tillman, who helped lead the Riders to the Grey Cup championship in 2007, has been on paid administrative leave from the Canadian Football League club.
He was charged last February after a complaint by a 16-year-old girl who alleged he sexually assaulted the previous summer.
When the charge was first laid, the married father of two suggested there was more to the story and said he would rely on the justice system to air the facts.
The charge was to proceed on a summary basis, meaning it was considered less serious than an indictable offence.
Tillman was hired by the Roughriders in August 2006 and led the team to a Grey Cup the following season.
He hired head coach Kent Austin before the 2007 season, cut the club's payroll to meet the CFL's salary cap and worked to clean up the team's image after several players were charged over off-field incidents.
Months prior to Tillman's hiring, Trevis Smith, who was a former linebacker with the team, was charged with two counts of aggravated sexual assault after two women complained he exposed them to HIV without telling them he had the virus.
In February 2007, Smith was found guilty and received a five-year jail sentence. He was granted parole early last year and was deported to the United States.
But Smith wasn't the only Roughrider to get into trouble with the law. Between 1999 and 2007, more than a few players made headlines for everything ranging from drug possession to assault.
Tillman has enjoyed great success in the CFL as a general manager. He led the B.C. Lions and Toronto Argonauts to Grey Cup titles in 1994 and 1997, respectively, and has worked as a television analyst with TSN and Sportsnet.
Tillman also served as the general manager of the expansion Ottawa Renegades for three seasons before returning to broadcasting and ultimately landing the post with the Riders.
In July 2008, the Riders rewarded Tillman with a contract extension through 2010.