Report: Ex-49er Dana Stubblefield hit with restraining order

The former fiance of ex-49er defensive lineman Dana Stubblefield has obtained a restraining order against the one-time football star, after accusing him of repeatedly harassing her and threatening her life.

Calling him "violent and unpredictable," 26-year-old Melanie Wade said in court papers that Stubblefield once knocked her off her bicycle with his truck. Her allegations were first reported by KGO-TV, which said the San Jose woman contacted the television station because she is worried that authorities aren't doing enough to protect her.

Stubblefield, 38, has denied the allegations through his attorney. A former NFL player of the year, and now a defensive line coach for the football team at San Jose's Valley Christian High School,
Stubblefield is currently on probation after pleading guilty to a criminal charge of lying to a federal agent about using steroids in 2003.

He could not be reached for comment Saturday and previously declined to speak with KGO-TV. But the head football coach at Valley Christian, Mike Machado, voiced confidence in Stubblefield.

"He has my full support," said Machado, adding that he hadn't seen the television report and couldn't comment on Wade's allegations. "All I know is he's been with us for four years now and all I've seen Dana do is be a good role model and a positive influence on our kids."

School officials also stood by Stubblefield after he pleaded guilty last year in the Balco steroid investigation. They said he
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had been honest with the school about his steroid abuse and that he had been open with students in advising them not to repeat his mistakes.

Wade, however, painted a different picture of Stubblefield. The Mercury News was unable to reach her for comment, but Wade told KGO-TV that Stubblefield had become depressed and their three-year relationship had begun to deteriorate after his guilty plea in January 2008.

"He would lock me in and not let me leave the house, and tell me threats like, 'I'm not done with you 'till you're six feet under,' like 'I'm the only man you're going to be with,' " she told the TV station.

In court papers, Wade told of an incident in June 2008 when she was riding her bicycle and Stubblefield allegedly "ran me off the road." She said he bumped her bike with his truck, causing her to fall and suffer cuts and bruises.

Three months later, according to Wade, Stubblefield, who is 6-foot, 3-inches tall and weighs over 300 pounds, chased her after an argument and "physically wrestled with me" in an attempt to take away some personal items that she said belonged to her.

Wade said she broke up with Stubblefield in July, but he kept calling her repeatedly. In her Aug. 5 request for a restraining order, Wade wrote: "I am fearful for my life because, during his phone calls, Dana continuously threatened me with physical violence and death."

She reported the threats to police and also told authorities that Stubblefield forged her signature on a change-of-address form so that the Postal Service would deliver her mail to his house, according to KGO-TV's report.

A judge granted the request for an order that requires Stubblefield to keep 300 feet away from Wade, or 30 feet away when both are attending services at Family Community Church in San Jose. Santa Clara County Superior Court files show that a follow-up hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, at which time Judge Sharon Chatman will decide whether the order should remain in effect.

In an e-mail sent to KGO-TV last week, Stubblefield's attorney, Dan Nicholson, said: "We deny the allegations contained in the restraining order request, but in the interests of privacy and closure, we decline to make a statement."

When he was sentenced in the steroids case earlier this year, a federal judge ordered Stubblefield to pay a $5,000 fine and serve two years on probation. It's unclear whether the behavior alleged by Wade could be ruled a violation of his probation.