TW: Mentions of Sexual Assault and Rape
Two former Penn State football players have been charged with rape and sexual assault. The event occurred on July 6, when two students –– one age 17 –– reported being raped and assaulted at their off-campus apartment.
Both players were initially placed on interim suspension until their official removal from the team in early August. Kaveion Keys and Jameial Lyons, both 19, were arraigned on Oct. 23 and placed on $400,000 and $500,000 bail, respectively, but they were not required to post bail unless conditions were violated.
According to Keys, he did not know or engage in sexual activity with “Victim One.” As for Lyons, he acknowledged having ‘consensual’ sex with Victim One but said the victim would most likely report the encounter.
In the police report, the victim said she met Lyons and Keys at an off-campus apartment, where both former players provided alcohol to her and another girl while they smoked marijuana. As she was trying to fall asleep, Keys and Lyons touched her without consent and forced oral sex upon her and the other victim.
The victim stated both players raped her, restrained her arms and choked her, where on several occasions, she felt like she could not breathe. The student thought she saw a camera flash, and police stated there was a short video showing “indecent contact” with the victim. She managed to escape and tried waking the other women in the apartment.
Another woman spoke to police about her experience early the next morning, when Lyons led her into his bedroom, where she woke up without pants with Lyons sexually assaulting her.
A spokesperson from Penn State spoke to news outlets about the severity of these charges:
“We are aware of the serious charges against Mr. Keys and Mr. Lyons, who are no longer enrolled at the University… The safety of our community is our top priority, and Penn State takes any report of sexual assault or misconduct very seriously and investigates any and all reports.”
Penn State University Spokesperson
James Franklin reportedly denied questions about Keys and Lyons. After a practice last Wednesday, when a reporter asked Franklin about the criminal case, he walked away from the microphone. After the team’s 28-13 Wisconsin victory, he apologized for mishandling the situation.
“Difficult, difficult situation and I’ve got to own that I did not do a good job of that.”
James Franklin
The Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN) has a free, confidential hotline available 24 hours a day for victims of rape or assault at 1-800-656-HOPE.
