Prosecutors clear Talib's assault charges

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TAMPA, Fla., June 19 (UPI) -- Dallas County, Texas, prosecutors dismissed charges of assault with a deadly weapon against Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Aqib Talib, Talib's attorneys said.

Talib, 26, was accused of wounding and pistol-whipping Shannon Billings, the live-in boyfriend of his sister, Saran, the Tampa Bay (Fla.) Times reported. Talib was scheduled to stand trial for the second-degree felony on June 25. The charges carried a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.

"I guess the district attorney, in preparing for trial, had a chance to evaluate the case," Talib's attorney said. "The bottom line is that the complainant is sitting in jail as a repeat child molester and has prior cases of the same nature."

Billings is a registered sex offender and is currently in Dallas County jail on charges of indecency with a child/sexual contact.

The Buccaneers selected Talib in the first round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He has one year left on his contract.

"We're pleased that this is behind us," the Buccaneers said in a statement. "Aqib has had a positive off-season, which we expect will continue into training camp and the season."