Ryan Lochte Cleared of Criminal Charges in Brazilian Court

Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

Ryan Lochte had been accused of falsely reporting a crime in Brazil last summer during the Olympics, but those charges have been dropped, according to USA TODAY Sports.

Lochte he claimed on national television that he and three of his U.S. Olympic teammates had been robbed at gunpoint, but it was later revealed that Lochte and co. had instigated a confrontation with security guards who were off-duty police officers.

A three-judge panel in Brazil had ruled that Lochte had falsely reported a crime, but an appeals court reversed the decision by a two-to-one decision. The judges that ruled in Lochte’s favor because an investigation had not been opened at the time he made his statements.

“We are pleased that the court has finally dismissed the criminal prosecution against Mr. Lochte, while at the same time, appropriately recognizing that he committed no crime. It has been a long year, but in the end, justice prevailed,” Jeff Ostrow, Lochte’s attorney, told USA TODAY Sports.

Lochte was suspended 10 months for his role in the scandal, but that suspension expired July 1. He was scheduled to return to competition this weekend at the Los Angeles Invite, but Ryan Lochte Not Competing At LA Invite After All.

From Swimming World Archives

Ryan Lochte Apologizes For Behavior, Says He Should Have Been More ‘Careful and Candid’

19 August 2016

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Julie Liegel Miller

6 years ago

No matter what he did he brought down respect for the sport in the eyes of the world. Really liked him but glad he had some consequences. My swimmers no longer look up to him.

Boaz Schwartz

6 years ago

Reply to Julie Liegel Miller

And who exactly made you an expert in what “the eyes of the world” see ??? The ” world ” is looking down at the sport of swimming because of that incident?? What exactly are you smoking Julie ??

Sean Abbey

6 years ago

Reply to Julie Liegel Miller

Kids shouldn’t be looking up to any of these people anyways. They should be looking up to their parents and coaches and teachers. People that directly mold and shape their lives. They should be looking up to athletes skill sets and striving to achieve and surpass and grow their skills

Rene Clabaugh

6 years ago

Reply to Sean Abbey

The respect these athletes get is for what they do in the pool. What they do out of the pool serves to enhance or tarnish it.

Phelps turned himself around, spectacularly. I can respect that. At half my age, Phelps will forever be a hero to me. Young athletes need to see what these people have done and get inspired. Then maybe realize that they can do it too.

I have not yet come to respect Lochte because of his flippant seeming behaviors, and crying about being number two, ahead of Spitz. Time can change that. I am willing to wait for Lochte. Some day maybe.

We need heroes who are real and not fake things like we might think they should be. I can care more about swimming now, and winning means more to me now because, that’s right, Michael Phelps.

Who is your hero?

Jason Cronk

6 years ago

Sure hope they don’t look up to Phelps. He has done much worse

Grace Crossland

6 years ago

Reply to Jason Cronk

Yeah. 23 Gold medals. Bad boy for being so damn gifted

Clare Higgins

6 years ago

Reply to Jason Cronk

He did, but he also paid the price and turned his life around. The road to Rio was his road to redemption he was a completely different person than the man who retired at London. Brilliant to see, hopefully Ryan will have the same chance.

Grace Crossland

6 years ago

No one is perfect. Just because someone is in the limelight doesn’t give you the right to judge. Unless you are flawless.
Ryan’s underwater work is flawless & I will still get my kids to learn from his ability

Jonna Waller

6 years ago

You don’t say? After the extortion price that was paid. ?

Sabina H. Marshall

6 years ago

His swimming is amazing, his behavior is atrocious. Grow up!

Andrew Webber

6 years ago

He got done for taking the pee

Chad Bloom

6 years ago

Still an idiot

Richard P. Morrall

6 years ago

…and will the assoc., which rushed, in their pc & racist glee, to vilify him, now vacate the suspension? Of course not!

Douglas Klein

6 years ago

Reply to Richard P. Morrall

not only should they vacate the suspension but they should also issue an apology (in writing and verbally) and award him his prize money for winning the gold in the medley relay and pay him the withheld stipends retroactive to September 1, 2016, the date the suspension went into effect.

If the IOC and the USOC refuse to do so, then an action in both the federal court and the International Court of Arbitration of Sport should be pursued. Another issue to be pursued is whether the Brazilian courts withheld the decision to make sure that Lochte served the entire 10 month term. Does NOT pass the smell test. Thooughts?

Patricia Pascarelli

6 years ago

What a shame, I am a Brazilian former swimmer and am embarassed by his behavior ?

Don D Campbell

6 years ago

Typical Yankee D**k

Michael Maloney

6 years ago

ok hes a LIAR…drunken ahole….forgive him for that…BUT he is a COWARD..for FLEEING the country to save his own hide..and LEAVING his friends behind….no excuse for that….at 31 years old….then he does some stupid TYR commercial on how all he wants to do is WORK…give us a break…nuff said

Grace Crossland

6 years ago

Everyone gave Dawn Fraser grief when she stole the Olympic flag but she is still an icon in Australian Swimming.
All you haters should post your 400IM times before you blow your trumpet

commonwombat

6 years ago

Reply to Grace Crossland

Grace, you may be surprised but Dawn’s reputation (both in swimming and in the public arena) is actually rather diminished these days …. largely via her own words.

Her achievements are still honoured (and will continue to remain so) but she has become a rather notorious “rent-a-quote”/’go to” person for a crusty “what is this country coming to ?”/”in my day” soundbite on any AUS sporting controversy . She WAS elected to the NSW State Parliament about 30 years ago ….. her electorate emphatically turfed her out after one term.

Amelia Clara

6 years ago

Reply to Grace Crossland

Being able to swim fast doesn’t excuse his behavior – ever. He has always been rogue and cavalier – never been a great role model.

Sara

6 years ago

Reply to Amelia Clara

Yeah, all that time he spends with kids and making sure that they all get autographs is super rogue and cavalier.

Shaheen Alghofari

6 years ago

Joe Stott

Hetty Oliver

6 years ago

We all fall off the boat now and again, it is the getting up that counts. stop being so bloddy critical

Matt Seadog

6 years ago

He got a gun pulled on him in a third world hell hole and told to give up his money for trying to steal a poster. If that isn’t getting robbed, I don’t know what is.

If a cop (Nevermind some random guy) pulled a gun on someone for stealing a poster in the United States, people would want the cop to be fired for excessive force. Give me a break.

Michael Maloney

6 years ago

Reply to Matt Seadog

usa arrogance…he was in ANOTHER COUNTRY…….lets see….midnight express ring a bell….or the arrogant teen who got CANED for being a d-bag thinking he was going to get away with it because he was an american…..and RIO is not a HELL hole…..go to syria or Iraq if you want to see hell holes……no one FORCED him to get drunk and act an ass…..he did it all on his own and FLED his friends …and ahole and a coward…

Douglas Klein

6 years ago

Anyone who dares to criticize Lochte now should have their head examined. I knew all along he would be cleared of all of the charges.

Several things:

1. EVERYONE WHO HAD THE AUDACITY to criticize him, ostracize him and hold him up to ridicule and contempt OWES HIM A PERSONAL APOLOGY.

2. Those idiots who harassed him on the DWTS show, including the moronic woman in the audience, must also apologize and pay Ryan money.

3. His lawyers should petition the USOC and the IOC for the release of the funds wrongfully withheld and this includes, but not limited to, the $100k prize money for winning the gold metal in the relay medley at Rio in addition to his monthly training stipends retroactive to September 16, 2016.

4. His lawyers should also petition the International Court of Arbitration to have an investigation launched as to the timing of the decision. Was the decision withheld until AFTER the suspension was over for political reasons? There is ample precedent for this that occurred in California many years go when the California Supreme Court justices were accused of withholding a death penalty decision (People v. Tanner) so as to influence the voting on an upcoming Initiative concerning the death penalty in California. However, Brazil should not get away with such chicanery without consequences.

Thoughts? Comments? Questions?

Michael Maloney

6 years ago

Reply to Douglas Klein

Cleared he still has 2 charges pending against him….and answer my question…did he RUN away and leave his friends to take the brunt of what he caused….wow……he was cleared of the 1 charge because the cops didnt charge him right away……hes a LIAR and a COWARD 3rd time saying this and NO ONE refutes it because its …TRUE

Rene J Clabaugh

6 years ago

Reply to Michael Maloney

No one refutes it because no one knows whether it is true or not. Saying that Ryan ran away is just attitude on your part. As I recall, his buddies were stopped at the last second, at the airport. Not that Ryan’s lame actions require any defense, nor has he earned any apology. Being worked up about someone’s else’s problems is not too mature. It’s time for people to get down out of that tree and do something noteworthy instead.

Douglas Klein

6 years ago

Reply to Michael Maloney

Michael:

First, you are completely incorrect. The ENTIRE case has been dismissed. If this is inaccurate, please cite me that part of the decision that specifically leaves any charges pending. (I am not addressing the 15 day period the prosecutor has to appeal to the Brazilian Supreme Court.)

Second, you ignore reality: How is he a “LIAR.”? The three-judge panel did not believe he was. What he stated was accurate at the time then and now. What evidence do you have to the contrary? You like all of the other retarded fools do not deserve to have the likes of Ryan, who is a wonderful role model for children.

Third, your calling Ryan a ‘COWARD” shows that you speak with a forked tongue. It is laughable when you consider the comment to the movie “Midnight Express”, which, if you have any knowledge of the Billy Hayes case, totally undermines your comment. He did not trust the corrupt judicial system of a cesspool country he was in at the time. It was Ryan who was the victim of a crime when the “security” staged the robbery and add the crime of assault as the weapon was pointed directly at him. Why do you not listen to and respect the facts of the USA TODAY investigation and ultimately the Brazilian appellate court?

Michael, your comments have zero credibility. Accept the facts and embrace Ryan as an American hero, idol and role model for society.

Tasha McGill

6 years ago

Michael Maloney

6 years ago

douglas…..do i have to put up the interviews where he lied….to the news media…..then later he CRIED on national tv with Matt Lauer..and said he lied…wow…..and COWARD….forked tongue…he FLED the country LEAVING his friends that’s COWARDLY….lol…. ans lastly was he a drunken ahole….YES..admittedly by himself…and sorry to say just like Phelps…thats not a ROLE Model…..and nothing for nothing AMERICAN heroes are not SUSPENDED from there sport…..GO Katie LEDECKY….just saying

Michael Maloney

6 years ago

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According to Brazilian news outlet Globo, the Court of Justice of Rio de Janeiro has dropped one charge against U.S. Olympian Ryan Lochte following the infamous gas station incident during the Olympics last summer.
Back in August, Lochte was indicted for “false reporting of a crime” for falsely stating that he and three teammates were robbed at gunpoint in an interview with NBC News. However, on Thursday, July 13th, Rio’s Fifth Criminal Chamber of the Court of Justice closed a criminal case against Lochte by accepting a habeas corpus petition in his defense.
In the ruling, the judges found that “”there is only a crime of false communication of a crime when the police take action from the narrative of the alleged victim – not when the story is officially registered after the authority has already begun to act.”
Lochte still stands against the city of Rio de Janeiro with two other charges.
Having served out his USA Swimming suspension due to the incident (though he is still banned from FINA World Championships this month), Lochte is making his return to the pool this weekend at the 2017 L.A. Invite…………………..there is YOUR version of the story proved WRONG

Michael Maloney

6 years ago