Tears were rightfully shed as Brian Banks, former Long Beach Poly High star football player, stepped into the freedom of exoneration after serving five years for a rape charge that was dismissed last Thursday.

Ten years ago, Banks was Poly senior, fielding offers from around the country and looking to engage in some of the top-tier football programs following graduation. Wanetta Gibson — then a sophomore at Poly — accused Brian Banks of raping her at the school. He eventually pled no contest to forcible rape charges while Gibson, who had sued the school, won a settlement of some $750,000.

Banks entered prison at 17, achieving parole in August of 2007. Slowly adjusting to post-prison life, he was contacted by Gibson last year via Facebook, in an attempt by Gibson to make amends and apologize for causing Banks to lose his college football career. In a meeting with a private prosecutor, Gibson admitted during a recorded conversation that Banks had indeed never raped her.

Banks, according to his lawyer Justin Brooks, will not pursue charges against Gibson, stating he simply wants to put the ordeal behind him, hoping to continue chasing his dream of playing professional football.

Investigating the nature of Gibson’s recantation along with the school district attempting to get its settlement money back proves trickier than thought. According to Lisa Massaccani of the Long Beach Police Department, they are looking into Gibson’s conduct though complications are involved. The statute of limitations for a false accusation is four years; Gibson testified in 2003 but recanted her charge last year. Further complicating the matter is the fact that she was a juvenile when she made the accusation.

The LBUSD nor Gibson have commented on this story.