re: Vols AJ Johnson & Michael Williams indicted on rape allegations

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[The presentment charges each player with two counts of aggravated rape, "aided and abetted by" the other.]

Does this mean they aided and abetted each other in the aggravated rape?

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I haven't seen the indictment yet but one of the qualifiers for aggravated rape is the following subsection:

quote:

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(3) The defendant is aided or abetted by one (1) or more other persons; and

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The aiding and abetting part is likely aimed at AJ given what we've heard but I'm sure that will come out at trial. What it means in this case is that if AJ didn't participate BUT is somehow proven to have aided/abetted then he's guilty of aggravated rape regardless. Given AJ's prior relationship with this girl, I suspect he is accused of allowing Williams to rape her. That's likely the state's theory.

**KEEP IN MIND** How it might've happened is an educated guess based upon the few leaks there have been and rumor. I could be wrong on the hows.