Mike Nifong, the disbarred prosecutor in the Duke lacrosse rape case, may be charged with a criminal contempt for allegedly lying to the court.

The falsely accused players and their families, who incurred millions of dollars in legal bills, are expected to file civil lawsuits against Nifong, and they want a judge to consider holding Nifong in criminal contempt for allegedly lying to the court, AP reports.

Former Durham District Attorney Michael Nifong have already lost his law license, after a legal panel found he violated ethical conduct in his handling of the Duke Lacrosse case.

"There is no discipline short of disbarment that would be appropriate in this case," the panel unanimously agreed.

Earlier last week Nifong resigned from his office because he no longer is "furthering the cause of justice" by staying in the job, he said.

Nifong, 58, apologized to the three lacrosse players whom he wrongfully accused of raping a stripper at a March 2006 off-campus party.

Nifong has been accused of withholding evidence, including DNA evidence, from defense attorneys in the case. His defense attorneys have denied the charges.

"I will go to my grave being associated with this case, and that's OK," Nifong said. "I took responsibility on myself, and I don't intend to pass it off on anybody else."

As prosecutor, Nifong originally charged three Duke players, including Seligmann and Finnerty, with the rape of an exotic dancer who was hired to perform at a house party hosted by the team in March 2006.

Those charges were dropped earlier this year by North Carolina State Attorney General Roy Cooper, who said the accusations were false.

"Much of the criticism directed to me in the case is justified," Nifong said. "The allegations that I'm a liar, however, are not justified."

Nifong had admitted that he violated ethics rules, but said he "tried to do the right thing" when he brought the now-discredited charges against the lacrosse players. He then said he would step down.

Wade Smith, a lawyer for Collin Finnerty, one of the three players, said the apology rings hollow. "It comes too late to really ease the pain in the hearts of the families," he said.