In a statement released to the media Friday afternoon, the office said that it agreed with the Seattle Police Department’s conclusion that there was insufficient evidence to support criminal charges.”
The individual, described earlier as “prominent,” has not been named because he has not been charged.
The incident occurred Jan. 8 at an apartment off 23rd Avenue in the Central District. A 16-year-old girl, who contacted the player through Facebook, agreed to meet him after the Oregon State game that night.
The prosecutor’s statement said investigators interviewed witnesses that included a 16-year-old friend of the girl as well as two other men. The player met the women downtown and bought them liquor. After drinking, they returned to his apartment, where witnesses say consensual sex took place.
State law says a 16-year-old is legally capable of consenting to have sex.
After the incident, the girl walked to a nearby intersection and called her mother and uncle to pick her up. She was taken to Harborview Medical Center, where she was examined and interviewed by police.
A charge of third-degree rape requires proof that a victim clearly expresses a lack of consent by words or conduct.
A university spokesperson said a statement was forthcoming later Friday. UW coach Lorenzo Romar and Athletic Director Scott Woodward can take action independent of the prosecutor’s decision. If they determine that the player violated team/university rules, he can be disciplined. The fact that the player allegedly introduced alcohol into the mix may be enough to take action.
Romar has told the media that we take this seriously,” but has offered no further comment.
The episode appears to have been a team distraction. In the first game after the investigation was made public, Jan 13 at Stanford, the Huskies uncharacteristically blew an 11-point second-half lead in a 58-56 loss, their first Pac-10 loss. It ended a six-game winning streak.
In the past two road games, at Pullman and at Corvallis, students have jeered and held up signs when the player entered the game.
3 Comments
“A charge of sexual assault against a University of Washington mens basketball player has been dropped…” – Is it amateur hour at Sports Press NW? The ‘charges’ weren’t dropped because the player was never charged in the first place. After an investigation was completed by the police and was reviewed by the King Co. Prosecutor’s Office, they decided to not charge the player with a felony. There is a big difference.