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Florida State duo avoids suspension after conduct hearing

Jameis Winston led Florida State to the school's third national championship in January. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)

 Jameis Winston will try to lead Florida State to the third national championship on Jan. 6. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)

Florida State football players Chris Casher and Ronald Darby remain on the squad after a panel was conducted to see if the two violated the school's code of conduct, reports the Associated Press.

Casher and Darby were brought before the panel due to their connection to an incident in which a female student accused quarterback Jameis Winston of raping her. From the AP report:

The two faced charges after they told police they witnessed sex between quarterback Jameis Winston and a woman who accused him of raping her in December 2012. Casher told police he video-recorded a portion, but deleted the footage.

In December 2013, prosecutors decided not to charge Winston in the case, citing a lack of evidence. Winston won the Heisman Trophy and then led the Seminoles to a BCS national championship title the following month.

Darby's attorney said the Florida State hearing panel found him not responsible of any violations. But according to the Wall Street Journal, Casher received one year of probation after being found responsible for two violations of the school's student code of conduct.

Darby and Casher were charged with "conduct of a sexual nature that creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive environment for another person" and "acts that invade privacy of another person."

The players could have been suspended or expelled from school if they were given the highest form of punishment.

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