Posted on 08/20/2004 1:16:08 PM PDT by Kennesaw
4 BYU Football Players Accused of Rape Aug. 20, 2004
A 17 year old girl accuses four BYU football players of rape.
So far, no arrests have been made, but the news has had a chilling effect on the entire BYU campus...especially on the football field at practice this morning.
Sam Penrod is live in Utah County with some disturbing details that are starting to come out.
The football team had its morning practice and it was an entirely different mood than yesterday, before these allegations became public, and these court documents spell out in very graphic detail the allegations against the four players.
The 17 year old girl along with her parents went to police the day after she says that she was raped at this off campus apartment complex.
The girl told police she met the men at the mall on Sunday August 8th and later agreed to come to their apartment.
Inside she was offered vodka to drink, which she later accepted, a pornographic video was playing on a TV and the girl told detectives that she later passed out and awoke to find herself undressed. She says she was raped by three or four men over a period of 20 to 30 minutes.
At practice today, it was anything but usual for the football team, there are many tough questions being directed at the team and longtime BYU writer Dick Harmon says these allegations would chill any college campus, especially BYU.
The BYU athletic department issued this statement this morning attributed to Head Football Coach Gary Crowton:
It reads: "Anytime allegations of misconduct surface regarding our players, it's a matter of serious concern for us. We want to get to the bottom of this and when we do, we will work with the University to do what is appropriate."
So far the players have not been identified by police or the university.
And it does not appear anyone on the team has been suspended.
I would think so.
BYU was just ranked as the most anti-party school.
Just a few days ago it was all over the news that BYU was in last place as far as alcohol and drug use.
Their last names were Kennedy, Kennedy, Kennedy, and -- how about that! -- Kennedy.
35 seconds. Jeesh!
Was Bubba in town for a speech?
Unfortunately, there will be those who will be gleeful about the fact that this has happened at BYU. As a Notre Dame fan, where a couple of similar things have happened in recent years, I have seen the moronish behavior of those who take great joy in seeing anything that represents traditional moral values torn down.
45 :)
As a BYU alum, I find this disgusting. Of course, it was no more disgusting than when I was at Big 10 University of Iowa, and I was always hearing about wrestlers and footballers raping their "dates." Of course, they often got off scot-free.
Here's another news account:
Deseret Morning News, Friday, August 20, 2004
Gridders at BYU accused of rape
Police probe allegations by teen in Aug. 8 incident
By Laura Warner, Dick Harmon and Tad Walch
Deseret Morning News
PROVO — News that police are investigating allegations Brigham Young University football players gang raped a 17-year-old girl surfaced Thursday just hours before the team appeared at an open house for fans.
As a result, BYU athletic department officials, coaches and players were flooded with questions about the incident during the Deseret Morning News meet-the-team night at LaVell Edwards Stadium.
That's where senior wide receiver Rod Wilkerson, who came to the event with his wife and child, first learned of the report.
Athletic director Val Hale had no comment, although he spoke extensively about the university's honor code during a Campus Education Week presentation Thursday morning.
Provo police confirmed they are investigating allegations made by a 17-year-old girl on Aug. 9 that she was raped by multiple suspects "reported to be BYU football players."
No charges have been filed, and police aren't releasing any names or details about the allegations or investigation.
But according to the Associated Press, a Provo police search warrant filed in 4th District Court outlined the girl's allegation that she was raped Aug. 8 after falling asleep or passing out in a room at University Villa, 865 N. 160 West.
The girl said she met the men at a mall that afternoon and agreed to go to their apartment, where they watched a pornographic video and she drank vodka. She told police she passed out and woke up when the men began to take turns having sex with her, the AP reported.
BYU spokesman Michael Smart said that school officials are still receiving information about the incident.
"These are allegations of grave misconduct," Smart said. "Of course, we take them very seriously. This matter has our full attention. We have been and will continue to be fully cooperative with the police."
Smart said it is too soon for the university to launch its own investigation.
"There will certainly be an honor code review," he said.
Earlier this year, a woman accused several BYU football players of raping her at a January party. The woman later recanted her story and said she engaged in consensual group sex with six of the men.
No charges were filed, and Provo and BYU police agreed not to press charges against the woman for filing a false police report.
However, BYU punished six players for violations of the school's honor code, a personal-conduct code that bans consumption of alcohol and tobacco, as well as extramarital sex. All students, including athletes, must sign and agree to adhere to that code.
The university expelled the team's top running back, Reynaldo Brathwaite, and suspended three other players until January 2005. The others withdrew on their own accord.
Earlier Thursday, in his annual Education Week presentation on the state of the athletic department, Hale fielded questions about that incident and explained what measures BYU has taken to ensure policies are understood by new recruits.
"We have been very careful in making sure those athletes understand our honor code and standards," Hale said.
The school produced a DVD for players that includes orientation remarks from former stars Vai Sikahema, Chad Lewis and Brandon Doman.
And Tuesday, former Cougar and San Francisco 49er running back Bill Ring spoke to BYU's team in person, explaining the need for keeping standards. Ring was a roommate of the sometimes outrageous quarterback Jim McMahon while playing at BYU.
"They have received three or four speeches in the last two weeks from coaches and administrators," Hale said. "I gave a 40-minute speech to the entire football team on this very issue. I did not talk about the 'whats' but explained the 'whys' of why we have the honor code."
Hale said people have the perception that only athletes violate the school's honor code.
"Obviously, they haven't been a (LDS) bishop on a campus ward before," he said. "People make mistakes. ... People still have free agency. We keep on it, but people are going to make mistakes."
And, he said, "It will happen in the future."
Thats got my vote.
Not to excuse any man who would do what is described in this article, but. Granted this girl is only 17 but how stupid can you be.
Any girl of normal intelligence that goes a guy’s apartment that she has met for the first time and has drinks with him should expect that he wants to get in her pants.
If a young women decides to go to the apartment of any strange man she had better keep her wits about her.
At least one USC football player target of sex assault investigation
Did she know these guys beforehand, or did she actually meet them (for the first time) at the mall?
Let alone FOUR strange men.
As a BYU Alumnus, this bugs me on several levels. First she met these guys at a mall and went back to their apartment with them (Problem #1) Then she watched a Porno (Problem #2) Then She drank Vodka (Problem #3). Nothing excuses the Rapists, but all three of these things are forbidden by BYU’s code of honor precisely to “Keep you out of trouble”. No one ever fell over a cliff by staying away from the edge. She could have avoided a very unpleasant experience buy just following the “Rules”. The rapists, once convicted, should be punished in the harshest manner allowed by law. (My friends keep telling me we can’t castrate rapists, but I keep hoping).
BYU will be blamed for this even though everyone involved was breaking a contract and an oath to be there, Sheesh!
"Inside she was offered vodka to drink, which she later accepted, a pornographic video was playing on a TV and the girl told detectives that she later passed out and awoke to find herself undressed. She says she was raped by three or four men over a period of 20 to 30 minutes."
What's with the "later" language? Trying to make her behavior seem less rash?
Want to come over? Ooh, maybe later. Want some vodka? Ooh, maybe later.
Raped by three or four? Now that's pretty drunk.
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