The already strange Chris Andersen case has taken an new turn with the attorney for the Nuggets big man suggesting this is a case of extortion by a spurned female fan.
Yesterday police from the Internet Crimes Against Children division searched Andersen’s Denver area home and took a number of computers and other devices as part of an ongoing investigation that had gone one for a couple months after a tip from California law enforcement. Police are not offering details of the case due to the ongoing investigation.
The Nuggets “excused indefinately” Andersen from his duties with the team until the issue is resolved, he was not on the bench with them for their Game 6 win over the Lakers Thursday nor will he be with them for Game 7 on Saturday.
Andersen’s attorney, Colin Bresee, has released a statement to the Denver Post that starts to tell his side of the story.“A female fan in 2010 mailed Mr. Andersen multiple letters and included several photos in which she was scantily clad. Chris and this woman communicated with each other and in 2011, this woman, who represented herself as 21 years of age, flew to Colorado, showing her required identification. After leaving Colorado, she became upset at his lack of interest. In 2012, she threatened to retaliate if he did not provide financial remuneration. “
According to the statement, someone purporting to be the woman’s mother wrote in an email that “ ‘i (sic) want him to pay for everything on her Amazon wish list, 5K for her bedding stuff and her victoria secret wish list.”
“Professional athletes are routinely targeted by these types of individuals,” the statement said. “The media has been speculating that he’s a suspect and not a victim in a criminal investigation. Mr. Andersen has been fully cooperative with the authorities. The investigation is expected to take three weeks. We’re confident it will show that Chris did not engage in any criminal conduct.”
Bresee confirmed that story to the Associated Press adding that he expects the negotiation to take about three weeks and that his client would be cleared. Andersen has not been arrested, no charges have been filed and police said there is nothing imminent.
I’m not going to pretend to know what the truth is here, that will be up to the police to sort out.