The North Carolina State Attorney General?s office agreed Saturday to take over the sexual assault case against three Duke University lacrosse players at the request of the district attorney.

For nearly a year, Durham County District Attorney Mike Nifong pursued the case against the three Duke students, including Garden City resident Collin Finnerty. The case involved allegations a 28-year-old woman hired as a stripper was gang-raped and beaten at a party thrown by the lacrosse team. The rape charges have since been dropped against the men. Nifong faced ethics violations for allegations he made inflammatory statements to the media.

Attorney General Roy Cooper says he will not comment on Nifong?s handling of the case. Instead he says he will focus on the investigations and charges of sexual assault and kidnapping against Reade Seligmann, David Evans and Finnerty. Cooper says it will be a lengthy process and does not know when or if the case will go to trial.

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