Anglin wants to put sexual misconduct allegations in rear-view mirror

FORMER MIAMI FC midfielder Jahshaun Anglin is aiming to get his career back on track after allegations of sexual misconduct put paid to his USL contract last year.

Anglin is expected to turn out for Harbour View in the Jamaica Premier League (JPL) this evening, saying he is hoping to use this second chance to put his career back on its upward trajectory.

Anglin made his debut for Harbour View in 2019 as an 18-year-old and impressed then national coach, Theodore Whitmore, enough to earn his first call-up against Bermuda months later, in March 2020. His debut was impressive.

Anglin’s outstanding start earned him a move to Miami in January 2021, but by September, after playing only 15 games, his career hit a roadblock after he was accused of sexual battery.

The allegations forced him to the sidelines until the matter was resolved five months later, when the player was cleared of the charges.

According to the initial reports, Anglin allegedly sexually assaulted a woman in a classroom at Florida International University.

The official police report alleged that Anglin met the woman on a bench near the 11000 block of Southwest 12th Street and the two agreed to meet at another location.

When they arrived, Anglin allegedly asked her to perform a sexual act on him, but she refused. The report then alleges that he put his hands down her underwear and assaulted her. The allegation continues that the woman tried to leave but was prevented from doing so by Anglin. It is then alleged that Anglin performed a sex act on her before fleeing after being spotted by an eyewitness.

Anglin refuted the allegations.

He now wants put that period of his life quickly behind him and get back to playing football.

“Mission accomplished, case dismissed. He can go back to his regular life,” said Anglin’s lawyer, Jaime Aird.

Although Anglin was acquitted, Miami had already decided to sever ties with the player.

But when one door closes, another opens.

DISAPPOINTED

“What happened in Miami is in the past. I am disappointed the contract ended but I did not know I was going to be in that situation.

“My only aim was football and then the situation came in my way but now it is passed and I just want to get back focus and get my career back on track and see if I can get recalled to the national team, and I am still looking for an overseas contract,” said Anglin.

The midfielder believes he is talented enough to get back into the swing of things quickly, and hopes this means second chances.

“It is nice being back in the Premier League as a young player. Harbour View is a good club with good players and I am training hard with them and I am getting my fitness back. I am looking forward to playing the game this weekend and to show that I still have talent.”

Harbour View did not have the best first round, enjoying just three wins from 11 matches, with four draws and four defeats, to be sitting in seventh position on 13 points.

Anglin is confident he can give the team the shot in the arm it needs to turn their season around.

“I am going to change that [bad form]. The difference is going to be me. I am going to show that anything is possible and that they can win the Premier League. I have a lot of confidence in them. This Sunday they (fans) will see a goal and two assists,” he said.

He added that despite his short stint, his time in Miami was a great learning experience, and that club teammate, national player and fellow Southside native, Devon ‘Speedy’ Williams, was a great source of encouragement and support during his crisis.

“I want to bless up Devon because if it wasn’t for him, I don’t know how I would have managed through this. He was behind me all the way and he kept pushing me. So I really want to thank him.”

But according to Williams, he did no different for Anglin that anybody in his position would not have done.

“I was just making sure that I did all I could at the time. Making sure he had nothing much to worry about outside of what was going on in his life at the time.

“I also want to make mention of the national players who chipped in and assisted financially as well. So it was not only me,” said Williams.

livingston.scott@gleanerjm.com