Nick Carter Will Not Be Charged Over Alleged Sexual Assault

Nick Carter
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The Los Angeles D.A. has declined to press sexual assault charges against Nick Carter, citing the statute of limitations.

The Los Angeles District Attorney's Office has declined to press sexual assault charges against Nick Carter, citing that the statute of limitations had expired.

Last November, 34-year-old Melissa Schuman of the girl group Dream claimed that Carter raped her when she was 18 years old and he was 22 in a post on her personal blog. In a statement to ET at the time, Carter said that Schuman "never expressed to me while we were together or at any time since that anything we did was not consensual."

According to documents obtained by ET on Tuesday, the D.A.'s office says that the statute of limitations expired in 2013.

"The reporting party alleged that in 2003, she was the victim of a sexual assault perpetrated by the suspect in his apartment," the documents read. "The victim was 18 years old at the time of the assault. The statute of limitations expired in 2013. Therefore, an analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of evidence is not warranted and the matter is declined.”

In a statement to ET on Tuesday, Schuman says she expected the news.

“My family and I were well aware of the likelihood that my case was not prosecutable due to the statute of limitations in California regarding rape which was modified in 2016," the statement reads. "It is unfortunate that the law isn’t fully retroactive to accommodate assaults that have happened in the past, regardless of how far back. It gives me great solace to know that my testimony is fully documented, investigated and sealed for the future if needed by law enforcement. I gave my statement, as did the other witnesses. Speaking out was the best thing I could have ever done for myself and I hope it inspires others to do the same if it feels right for them.”

Meanwhile, Carter's lawyer, Michael Holtz, tells ET in a statement that the singer is "happy to put this matter behind him."

“Nick Carter was cleared today when the L.A. County District Attorney’s Office rejected the charges against him," the statement reads. "Nick has denied these allegations ever since he first learned of them last year, and was confident the District Attorney would conclude that there was no basis to pursue charges against him. He is happy to put this matter behind him."

In her blog post, Schuman said she was invited over to Carter's house during a day off from the movie they were co-starring in. She wrote that after arriving at his apartment with a friend, he allegedly brought her into the bathroom, where she claimed they started kissing and that Carter disregarded her objections before allegedly performing oral sex on her. She claimed he then demanded she perform oral sex on him, writing, "My thought was the only way to get out was to get him to finish what he had started." Schuman wrote that Carter then took her to the bedroom, where she alleged he raped her.

Schuman said that she considered pressing charges against Carter at the time, but claimed she was told that she "would likely be buried in humiliation, accused of being fame hungry, and it would ultimately hurt me professionally as well as publicly."

In his statement, Carter said he was "shocked and saddened" by the accusations. 

"Melissa never expressed to me while we were together or at any time since that anything we did was not consensual," the statement read. "We went on to record a song and perform together, and I was always respectful and supportive of Melissa both personally and professionally. This is the first that I am hearing about these accusations, nearly two decades later. It is contrary to my nature and everything I hold dear to intentionally cause someone discomfort or harm."

In February, Schuman filed a police report on Carter with the Santa Monica Police Department.

“Filing the police report today was the single most empowering thing I have ever done for myself," Schuman told ET. "I thought it was an option I could no longer pursue. A huge thank you to RAINN [the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network] for empowering me to take this step."

On Monday, Schuman tweeted a quote reading, "I tell my story. Not so that I get glory, but so that others may know Hope."

"Hope floats ❤️ #timesup #metoo" she wrote.

Meanwhile, on Monday, 38-year-old Carter revealed the news that his wife, Lauren, suffered a miscarriage. The two are already parents to their 2-year-old son, Odin.

“God give us peace during this time,” Carter wrote. “I really was looking forward to meeting her after 3 months. I’m heart broken. ... It was a little sister for Odin."

ET last spoke with the Backstreet Boys singer in June after the group's CMT Music Awards win for Performance of the Year with Florida Georgia Line. Watch below:

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