Prosecutors in Patricia case had medical evidence, at least 5 witnesses

At least five people appeared on the prosecution's witness list for the dismissed 1996 sexual assault case against Detroit Lions head coach Matt Patricia, according to court documents obtained by Tresa Baldas of the Detroit Free Press.

A nurse, a doctor, a police detective, and a police officer appeared on the list, as well as a college friend of the woman who reported Patricia assaulted her.

The woman told police that Patricia and one of his college friends burst into her hotel room and sexually assaulted her during spring break on South Padre Island in Texas. Both men were arrested and charged with aggravated sexual assault, but the case was dismissed in January 1997 because the woman didn't want to testify in the trial.

Court documents show the woman went to a hospital for treatment, and prosecutors acquired medical evidence. It's unknown whether that included DNA evidence.

Cameron County District Attorney Luis Saenz said his office handles about two to five sexual assault cases during spring break each year. He estimated that in half of those cases, charges are dropped after the person who reported the assault declines to testify.

"It's more often than not a consent issue," Saenz said. "The defendant said she consented and the victim says, 'No I did not.' It's not whether or not there was sexual activity. The key question is the consent."