Prosecutors won't pursue charges against Midwest City players

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) _ Ohio prosecutors will not pursue charges against a Duke basketball recruit and four other Oklahoma high school players accused in a rape complaint. <br><br>Shelden Williams, considered

Saturday, March 9th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) _ Ohio prosecutors will not pursue charges against a Duke basketball recruit and four other Oklahoma high school players accused in a rape complaint.

Shelden Williams, considered one of the top 10 high school recruits in the country, was named in the complaint along with four other Midwest City players.

The team was in Ohio for a tournament.

Ron O'Brien, a prosecutor for Franklin County in Columbus, Ohio, said this week he will not pursue charges against the players.

The decision could clear the way for Williams, a 6-9 forward, to enroll at Duke as a freshman in the summer and play basketball next season.

``I'm happy for Shelden that the case has reached this point,'' said Joe Alleva, Duke's athletics director. ``But our director of admissions will still have to rule on this matter. That would be the case for any student who wants to enter Duke.''

Williams and the four other players _ including De'Angelo Alexander, who has signed with Oklahoma _ were kicked off the team after the incident.

A 19-year-old woman claimed Williams and two of his teammates forced her into sexual conduct Jan. 20 in a Columbus hotel room. The two other players were witnesses, she said.

The woman told detectives during the investigation that she did not want to file charges.