A statement released by the attorney of the complainant in the sexual-assault case involving Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston says Tallahassee, Fla., police warned the accuser about pursuing the matter, according to a report.
The Tampa Bay Times reported the statement says a Tallahassee detective told the accuser's attorney that Tallahassee is a "big football town" and her client's life could "be made miserable" if she pursued the case against Winston.
Winston has not been arrested or charged with a crime, and his attorney has publicly denied any wrongdoing by his client.
The statement reportedly says that after the woman -- a Florida State student from the Tampa Bay area -- identified Winston as the suspect in early January, "the family grew concerned that she would be targeted on campus" and requested assistance from an attorney friend. When the attorney contacted the police, the Times reported the attorney was told that the accuser needed to think about proceeding with the case because "she will be raked over the coals and her life will be made miserable."
The Times reported the statement also says police refused to collect Winston's DNA or interview his roommate, a possible witness.
The statement also reportedly said the accuser and her family questioned why Winston's attorney, Tim Jansen, was told that the case had been closed in February.
A Florida State spokesman told Yahoo! Sports that the school would not be making a statement in response to the Times' story.
Mike Huguenin can be reached at mike.huguenin@nfl.com. You also can follow him on Twitter @MikeHuguenin.