Court dismisses Ryan Lochte false robbery report case

A Brazilian court has dismissed the criminal case against US swimmer Ryan Lochte, who had been charged with filing a false robbery report during the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro

Court dismisses Ryan Lochte false robbery report case

A Brazilian court has dismissed the criminal case against US swimmer Ryan Lochte, who had been charged with filing a false robbery report during the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

The court in Rio confirmed in a statement this week that it tossed out the case after determining Lochte's robbery claim made to NBC did not constitute the filing of a fake report.

Jeff Ostrow, a US lawyer for Lochte, said in a statement to USA Today they are "pleased" by the decision and the court understood Lochte "committed no crime".

Under Brazilian law, the penalty for filing a false crime report is a maximum of 18 months in prison.

Lochte told NBC last year that he and fellow swimmers Jack Conger, Gunnar Bentz and Jimmy Feigen were robbed at gunpoint in a taxi by men with police badges as they returned to the Olympic Village from a party on August 15.

Video captured by surveillance cameras showed the athletes getting into a confrontation with security guards at a petrol station when their cab pulled over to let them use the toilet.

The six-time Olympic gold medallist later acknowledged he was intoxicated and his behaviour had led to the confrontation.

Lochte served a 10-month suspension from competition over his behaviour in Rio.

"It's been a long suspension but it's over," he tweeted on July 1. "I've learned and became a better man from it."

more courts articles

Man (25) in court charged with murdering his father and attempted murder of mother Man (25) in court charged with murdering his father and attempted murder of mother
Man appears in court charged with false imprisonment of woman in van Man appears in court charged with false imprisonment of woman in van
Man in court over alleged false imprisonment of woman Man in court over alleged false imprisonment of woman

More in this section

Joe Biden
Barack Obama Former presidents help Joe Biden raise $26m for campaign
Greece’s government survives no-confidence motion called over rail disaster Greece’s government survives no-confidence motion called over rail disaster
Cookie Policy Privacy Policy Brand Safety FAQ Help Contact Us Terms and Conditions

© Examiner Echo Group Limited