Vernon Jones rape accuser decides not to pursue case

<p>The accuser in a rape investigation against DeKalb County Chief Executive Officer Vernon Jones has decided not to pursue the case, DeKalb prosecutors said Friday.</p><p>"She made the decision not to go forward in the best interests of her and her family," District Attorney Gwen Keyes Fleming announced at a press conference.</p><p>A 29-year-old woman from Lithonia, Ga., accused Jones of raping her at his home in south DeKalb County the night of Dec. 28. Jones, who turns 45 on Monday, previously called the allegation "nonsense" and said the incident amounted to consensual sex.</p><p>Keyes Fleming said her office is currently pursuing a separate matter related to the rape investigation concerning when, how and by whom Jones was initially made aware of the allegation.</p><p>Dwight Thomas, Jones' attorney, said he was not surprised by the outcome of the investigation.</p><p>"We somewhat expected this result," Thomas said. "The DA could have gone forward with sufficient evidence, irrespective of what a complaining witness wants. The case was meritless from the beginning."</p><p>The case was handed to Keyes Fleming her first day on the job and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation conducted a six-month investigation. She said the accuser has experienced "significant personal trauma" that was heightened by the media interest in the case.</p><p>Keyes Fleming declined to elaborate on the specifics of the new investigation, but said it "does not indicate wrongdoing on the CEO's part."</p>

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