Judge Reinstates Rape Charges Against Ex-Tiger Evan Reed

A Wayne County Circuit Court judge has reinstated sexual assault charges against former Detroit Tigers pitcher Evan Reed, who is accused of drugging and raping a Royal Oak woman last spring.

Third Circuit Court Judge Michael James Callahan said the judge who dismissed the charges in August abused his discretion, the Detroit Free Press reports.

The rape case against Reed, 28, of Royal Oak was dismissed in August by 36th District Court Judge Kenneth King, who said the complaining witness “vacillated,” “backtracked” and was not credible, and that prosecutors failed to show she was incapacitated.

Reed was arraigned last summer on two charges of third-degree sexual assault after a months-long investigation into allegations that he drugged a 45-year-old woman at the 5th Avenue Bar in Royal Oak, then took her to MotorCity Casino Hotel room and raped the morning of the Tigers’ Opening Day at Comercia Park.

Before binding Reed over for trial Friday, Callahan said his task wasn’t “to determine the guilt or innocence of Mr Reed,” The Detroit News reports.

“My sole decision is whether or not the magistrate ... abused his discretion in refusing to bind the defendant over on the charges,” Callahan said.

Reed’s attorney, Ben Gonek, said he plans to appeal the decision to the Michigan Appeals Court and argue for King’s decision tossing the charges to stand.

“We’re not asking for any unfair advantage,” Gonek said. “When you review the transcript and review the testimony and review (the woman’s) credibility, I think they will reverse Judge Callahan’s decision and reinstate Judge King’s.”

Reed has admitted that he and the woman had sex, but has insisted throughout the proceedings that it was consensual. At a news conference last summer, he said he was “blindsided” by the allegations and thought the woman at the center of the case was seeking attention by going after a professional athlete.

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Evan Reed booking photo