Three MSU Football Players Dismissed After Sexual Assault Investigation

Three MSU Football Players Dismissed After Sexual Assault Investigation

EAST LANSING - After a six month investigation, over 100 interviews and more then 1,500 hours spent on the case, three MSU football players have been dismissed from the team by head coach, Mark Dantonio.

"I'm angry," said Dantonio at a press conference this afternoon. "I feel like I talk about the responsibilities that our players have, not to be a good football player but to be a good person."

First reported in January 2017, an alleged victim came forward about a series of events that took place the night before at an apartment party on campus.

Today, the Ingham County Judge issued third-degree criminal sexual assault charges on players Joshua King, Demetric Vance and Donnie Corley Jr.

On January 16, 2017 the alleged victim reported being forced to perform oral sex on King after he invited her into a quieter room to talk, according Michigan State University detective Chad Davis.

Davis detailed the alleged assault at a district court hearing this morning.

After relocating to a quieter room with King, the alleged victim was then pulled into the bathroom where King tried to convince her to have sex with him, according to Davis' testimony.

After the alleged victim told King she did not want to have sex, she said he pulled her pants down and penetrated her without consent.

It was reported that later King allowed two friends into the bathroom, teammates Corley and Vance, where the alleged victim was then forced to perform oral on both of them.

Davis said King was first interviewed by police on Jan. 26. King originally denied having sexual conduct with anyone at the party then later "changed his statement and admitted he had sexual contact with the victim at the party."

Corley and Vance were interviewed late February, where they also originally denied being involved in any sexual conduct the night of the party but both later admitted to receiving oral sex from the alleged victim.

According to Davis' testimony, the investigation later revealed text messages between King, Corley, Vance and another member of the MSU football team containing "dialogue between the four indicating involvement in the assault by King, Corley and Vance."

Also found, a video on King's cell phone of King having sex with the alleged victim.

This morning the Judge signed three arrest warrants.

King is being charged with one count of first-degree criminal sexual assault, one count of third-degree criminal sexual assault and one count of capturing and distributing image of an unclothed person.

Corley and Vance were both charged with one count of third-degree criminal sexual assault conduct.

In a statement issued by Dantonio, he said "this is an extremely challenging situation that we have taken very seriously and has affected everyone in this program."

"The MSU Police Department has zero tolerance for sexual assault," said MSU Police Chief, Jim Dunlap, in this morning's press release. "I'm confident that this investigation was completed thoroughly and our detective worked diligently and exhaustively."

King, Corley and Vance were immediately dismissed from the team after the hearing and have yet to be arraigned on the charges in the 54-B District Court in East Lansing.

Additional Resources
READ ARTICLE

Championship Send-Off for Okemos Boys Soccer Team

11/6/2021

OKEMOS - The Okemos varsity boys soccer team received a spe... [More]

READ ARTICLE

Lansing Cricket League Shines In Meridian Township

8/12/2021

MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP, MI - Ever heard of cricket? It is one of India and East... [More]

READ ARTICLE

Meet Raptor Water Polo Club

8/12/2021

EAST LANSING - As many may have followed in Tokyo over the past f... [More]

READ ARTICLE

Brad Lilly Named Interim Football Coach at Okemos HS for 2021

8/12/2021

OKEMOS - Okemos High School recently named Brad Lilly as th... [More]

Meridian Weather