Dixon is also known for a 2003 court case in which, whilst still at high school, he was convicted of statutory rape andaggravated child molestation. The latter charge was later overturned by theGeorgia Supreme Court.[1][2]
Dixon was a grade A student and excelled on the football field to the point where he had been offered a fullscholarship atVanderbilt University, which he was unable to undertake due to his subsequent imprisonment.[3]
On September 5, 2010, Dixon was claimed off waivers by theNew York Jets.[6]
An exclusive rights free agent, Dixon was signed to a one-year contract on January 26, 2011.[7]
Dixon was released on September 1, 2012.[8] He was re-signed to the active roster on September 4.[9] He appeared in 3 games, before being released on September 24.[10]
On October 20, 2014, Dixon was signed to theBC Lions practice roster in theCanadian Football League.[15] Dixon made his CFL debut in the final game of the regular season against theCalgary Stampeders.[16] He was re-signed on March 2, 2015. Dixon retired from professional baseball on April 30.[17]
Kristie Brown alleged that on February 10, 2003, Dixon forced her to have sex, taking hervirginity.[23] She has stated that contrary to Dixon's supporters' belief, she was never Dixon's girlfriend and although they shared classes, they barely knew each other. The jury acquitted Dixon of rape,battery,assault andfalse imprisonment, but because Brown was only 15 and Dixon 18 at the time of the incident found him guilty of statutory rape and aggravated child molestation. Because of this Dixon was convicted at themandatory amount under Georgia law, ten years imprisonment.[24] If he had been found guilty of rape, he would have faced a much less severe punishment.[24][25]
The Georgia Supreme Court overturned Dixon's conviction for child molestation and he was released the same day, on May 3, 2004. The court let his conviction for misdemeanor statutory rape stand. After Dixon's release both he and Brown appeared onThe Oprah Winfrey Show in an attempt to clarify their stories.[27]
^Younge, Gary (January 23, 2004)."Deep south divided by rape case".The Guardian. London. RetrievedAugust 21, 2007.The case of a black high school student sentenced to 10 years in prison for having sex with a white 15-year-old classmate in Georgia is igniting long-standing racial tensions in the deep south.
