Ex-Bull Eric Brunson found not guilty of sex assault of massage therapist
A former Chicago Bulls player and assistant coach was found not guilty of sexually assaulting a massage therapist at a Vernon Hills fitness center in April 2014.
In making his ruling at the end of Friday's one-day trial, Judge James Booras said the state was "unable to meet the burden of proof required" to convict Eric "Rick" Brunson, 42, of Vernon Hills.
Brunson was charged with attempted criminal sexual assault, criminal sexual abuse, aggravated battery and domestic battery. Had he been found guilty of the most serious charge, he could have been sentenced up to seven years in prison.
"This has been a long, hard journey for him," defense attorney Dennis Berkson said. "At this point in time, he needs to work to get his reputation back. We hope now that he has been acquitted of everything, he can go out and restore his name."
Assistant State's Attorneys Jason Grindel and Fred Day accused Brunson of an unwanted sexual advance on the massage therapist and trying to force her to perform oral sex at Lifetime Fitness Center in Vernon Hills.
Authorities said Brunson surprised the woman when he showed up for a massage appointment using the name of NBA Hall of Famer Patrick Ewing. The woman told police she had a previous sexual relationship with Brunson but had told him she didn't want to massage him any longer and they stopped seeing each other in September 2013.
She testified Friday she reluctantly agreed to massage Brunson on April 2, 2014, because he was already there and she didn't want to make a scene.
In the massage room, Brunson received an hourlong massage. When the woman told him the time was up, he grabbed her arm, pulled her hair, and tried to force her to perform oral sex, prosecutors said.
The woman said that when she continued to refuse, Brunson pulled her hair, lifted up her shirt and continued unwanted sexual advances.
"I just wanted to get out of there," she testified. "All I could remember thinking was I wanted to get out of here."
But Berkson said the woman did not phone police for 10 days after the alleged attack. He said she was seen on video laughing and joking with Brunson as they left the massage room, and she handed Brunson a towel immediately after the alleged attack.
"Isn't it true that, not once did you yell, not once did you scream, not once did you say 'help'?" Berkson asked the woman. "Isn't it true that when you walked out with Rick, you were laughing with him? You were giggling?"
Brunson testified the massage therapist initiated sexual contact with him that evening. He denied allegations he forced her to do anything.
Brunson refused to comment about the verdict after he left the courtroom late Friday.
"We are disappointed by the ruling, but we respect the judge's decision," Day said. "Because it's easy to blame the victim in cases like this, it becomes more difficult for victims of this abuse to come forward."
According to NBA.com, Brunson played for seven teams in nine years, including two stints with the Bulls - during the 2002-03 season and during the 2003-04 season.
He was also a former assistant coach with the Bulls, Denver Nuggets and Charlotte Bobcats, and was reportedly expected to join the Temple University men's basketball staff as an assistant coach in 2014.