Florida State quarterback Winston cleared in conduct hearing into alleged rape

TALLAHASSEE, Fla., Dec 21 (Reuters) - Florida State University star quarterback Jameis Winston has been cleared in a student conduct code hearing looking into charges that he sexually assaulted a female student two years ago, according to documents released to Reuters on Sunday. There was insufficient evidence to charge the 20-year-old sophomore, one of the top U.S. college football players last year after winning the Heisman Trophy, with a violation, concluded retired Florida Supreme Court Justice Major B. Harding in his five-page recommendations to the university. "In sum, the preponderance of the evidence has not shown that you are responsible for any of the charged violations of the Code," Harding said. Winston was not charged criminally in the December 2012 incident, which he has maintained was consensual. (Reporting by Bill Cotterell; Writing by Letitia Stein; Editing by Colleen Jenkins and Eric Walsh)