WPXI Speaks With Nevada Sheriff About Big Ben Lawsuit

WPXI's Rick Earle traveled to Lake Tahoe and spoke with the Douglas County Sheriff about the civil suit filed against Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.

Andrea McNulty filed a lawsuit accusing Roethlisberger of raping her last summer in his penthouse hotel room at Harrah's Lake Tahoe during a celebrity golf tournament. McNulty was an employee of the hotel at the time.

Douglas County Sheriff Ron Pierini told WPXI’s Rick Earle that he first heard about the lawsuit from news reports. He was surprised and concerned to hear that McNulty did not contact his office. “The only way we will do an investigation is if she comes in and files a complaint," Pierini said.

According to the complaint filed by McNulty, Harrah’s management dismissed her distress following the alleged incident, saying that she was over-reacting. McNulty didn't file a criminal complaint because she feared Harrah's would side with Roethlisberger, and she would be fired. The suit doesn't say whether McNulty is still working for Harrah's.

Pierini told Channel 11 News that if McNulty does choose to file a criminal complaint, his door is always open.

COMPLAINT: Read Complaint Filed Against RoethlisbergerPHOTOS: TMZ.com's Images Of Andrea McNultyRELATED STORY: Private Eye Who Helped Bettis Discusses Big Ben Allegations

In light of the accusations against him, Roethlisberger canceled a news conference scheduled for Thursday to promote Shaquille O'Neal's new TV series that debuts on Aug. 8, "Shaq Vs."

Roethlisberger is one of the top athletes the NBA All-Star center intends to challenge in a series of skills tests in their respective sports.

Roethlisberger's lawyer denied the allegations Tuesday, saying McNulty, who was working as an executive casino host, never went to the authorities.

"Ben has never sexually assaulted anyone. The timing of the lawsuit and the absence of a criminal complaint and a criminal investigation are the most compelling evidence of the absence of any criminal conduct," David Cornwell said in a statement. "If an investigation is commenced, Ben will cooperate fully and Ben will be fully exonerated."

McNulty did not report the alleged rape to police and filed the lawsuit one year later.

Channel 11 spoke with a rape victim advocate at the Pittsburgh Action Against Rape center who said it’s not uncommon for rape victims to wait before filing a report.

“For ever person who did make an immediate report, there are most likely probably ten other victims who never filed a report of who will wait a considerable amount of time,” said Marlo Syidron, of Pittsburgh Action Against Rape.

The suit also alleges hotel officials for Harrah's Lake Tahoe went to great lengths to cover up the incident.

It seeks a minimum of $440,000 in damages from the quarterback, at least $50,000 in damages from the Harrah's officials and an unspecified amount of punitive damages "sufficient to deter" Roethlisberger and the others "from engaging in such conduct in the future."

McNulty said Roethlisberger struck up a friendly conversation at her desk during the golf tournament last July, according to the lawsuit.

The next night, she said Roethlisberger telephoned her to tell her his television sound system wasn't working and asked her to look at it. McNulty said she was unable to find a technician so she handled it herself because she had been told it was important to please the hotel's celebrities, according to the lawsuit.

In Roethlisberger's room, McNulty said she determined the TV was functioning properly but, as she turned to leave, the 6-foot-5, 240-pound quarterback blocked her exit, the suit claims.

The lawsuit said he grabbed her and started to kiss her. It said she was "shocked and stunned that this previously friendly man, that appeared to be a gentleman in her previous contacts with him was suddenly preventing her from leaving, was assaulting her and battering her."

She said she feared that because he was a football player he could or would physically harm her if she tried to fight him off, but that she objected and protested several times.

"But instead of stopping, Roethlisberger began fondling plaintiff through her dress," the suit said. He then "held her against her will and physically moved plaintiff and pushed her onto his bed" where he raped her, the suit said.

"You don't want to do this," she told him, the lawsuit said. According to the lawsuit, she begged him to stop, saying, "I am not on any type of birth control."

Afterward, he asked if there was a security camera in the hallway, the suit said. She said he then instructed her to claim she had repaired his television if anyone asked why she was in his room.

Previous Stories: July 22, 2009: Roethlisberger Accused In Nevada Sex Assault At Casino Hotel July 21, 2009: Private Eye Who Helped Bettis Discusses Big Ben Allegations July 21, 2009: Original Document: View Complaint Filed Against Ben Roethlisberger July 21, 2009: TMZ Releases Photos Of Woman Accusing Roethlisberger Of Sexual Assault July 6, 2009: Roethlisberger Beats Out Timberlake, Jordan To Win U.S. Open Challenge March 3, 2009: Big Ben Celebrates Birthday In Las Vegas