Prosecutor: Rice Wouldn't Have Faced Jail Time, Even if Convicted

After coming under fire for his office’s decision to allow Ray Rice to enter into a pre-trial intervention program following his assault on his now wife in February, Atlantic County Prosecutor Jim McClain explained to The Press of Atlantic City that Rice never would’ve faced jail time on Wednesday.

McClain said that because Rice was charged with third degree aggravated assault, he likely would’ve faced probation rather than incarceration, according to the report.

Rice would’ve had to have cause serious or permanent bodily harm to Janay Palmer to result in second-degree charges, according to the report.

McClain spoke to The Press of Atlantic City after two days of silence on the issue following TMZ’s release of a surveillance video from inside a Revel Casino elevator that showed Rice knocking his then fiancée unconscious.

The graphic nature of the video sparked additional outrage, and led State Sen. President Steve Sweeney (D-3) to call for a review of the way the Prosecutor’s Office handled the case.

Sweeney said on Wednesday that if the case was handled properly, the domestic violence laws in New Jersey need to be changed.

McClain did say the video was enough to convict Rice, even without Palmer’s testimony, and Rice likely would’ve received two years probation, according to the report.

The incident took place on Feb. 15. Shortly thereafter, Rice and Palmer were married. On May 20, the Prosecutor’s Office announced Rice would enter the 12-month PTI program.

Following that announcement, the NFL suspended Rice for the first two games of the season, a penalty that drew much criticism.

Following the release of the video on Monday, the Baltimore Ravens released Rice. The NFL then suspended Rice indefinitely, and questions about the way the Prosecutor’s Office handled the investigation arose.

Rice is synonymous with Rutgers football and a former Super Bowl champion. He holds 11 Rutgers University rushing records, including career yards and career touchdowns. He was drafted by the Ravens in 2008, and won Super Bowl XLVII with the team following the 2012 season.

For more, visit pressofatlanticcity.com.