Brian Banks, exonerated ex-football star, wants money from state

Brian Banks, a former football star from California, had his rape conviction thrown out after the alleged victim recanted her story.

Banks had spent five years in prison after pleading no contest to forcible rape and is now seeking money from California.

“We do not plan on taking any legal action against Gibson,” said Banks’ attorney, Justin Brooks of the California Innocence Project, referring to Banks’ accuser, Wanetta Gibson.

“We do plan on filing a state claim for the $100 a day Brian is entitled to under State Law 4900 for every day he was wrongfully incarcerated.”

Wanetta Gibson accused Banks of raping her at Long Beach Poly High School back in 2001 when she was just 15.

Her mother sued the Long Beach school system, which led to a $750,000 payment from a civil suit.

But years later, Gibson contacted Banks on Facebook recanting her story by admitting she lied about the incident, and offered to get his name cleared.

However, she refused to re-tell her story to prosecutors in fear of losing the money she received in the lawsuit.

Prosecutors say they will not pursue to charge Gibson with false accusations, saying it would be hard to prove.

Banks, now 26, was 17 at the time where many believed the 6-foot-4, 225 pound athlete was bound for the NFL.

The University of California had offered him a full-scholarship, and a few other division 1 schools were pursuing the linebacker.

Brian Banks says he plans to try out for the NFL and is also working on a documentary about his life.