Three Michigan State football players are charged with raping a woman in the bathroom at an on-campus party on January 16.
The victim told police about the assault in an interview on January 19.
"The victim said that (Joshua) King eventually pulled her into a bathroom," Michigan State University detective Chad Davis testified today. "King tried to get the victim to have sex with him. The victim said she told King she did not want to."
King initially denied having sexual contact with anyone at the party, which took place at University Villa Apartments. He later admitted he had sexual contact with the victim at the party.
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"(The victim) said King forced her to perform oral sex on him," Davis said. "The victim stated she told King she did not want to do anything else. The victim said King pulled her pants down and penetrated her vaginally with his penis."
Both Demetric Vance and Donnie Corley were allegedly then invited into the bathroom by King, where the victim said she was forced to perform oral sex on them.
A search of King's phone later revealed a group text message between King, Corley, Vance and another MSU football player "indicating involvement in the assault by King, Corley and Vance," Davis said.
The search of the phone also produced a video of the alleged assault.
Both Corley and Vance repeatedly denied having intimate or sexual contact with anyone at the party before each changed his story - admitting to receiving oral sex from a female in the bathroom.
Officers say Vance positively identified the victim in a photograph to police.
"The victim advised she never gave consent to being recorded," Davis said. "(She) was unaware any such activity was taking place during the sexual assault."
King is charged with one count of first degree sexual conduct, one count of third-degree criminal sexual conduct and one count of capturing/distributing an image of an unclothed person.
Vance and Corely Jr. are both facing one count of third-degree sexual conduct.
“The MSU Police Department has zero tolerance for sexual assault,” MSU Police Chief Jim Dunlap said. “I’m confident that this extensive investigation was completed thoroughly, and our detectives worked diligently and exhaustively in providing information to the prosecutor’s office.”
MSU Coach Mark Dantonio issued the following statement on Tuesday:
“With the criminal sexual conduct charges filed against Josh King, Donnie Corley and Demetric Vance, I have decided that regardless of the final outcome of the criminal process, these three individuals have been dismissed from our program, effective immediately.
“When we choose student-athletes to come to MSU, we enter into a relationship with them and their families, and we welcome them into ours. We emphasize that success on the field is not enough, as I made clear when all three individuals were suspended four months ago upon us learning of the allegations. They also must embrace our core principles, which include integrity, respect and accountability. The individuals in this case put themselves in a compromising position and did not live up to the standards we have outlined for our program.
“Sexual assault has no place in our community, and I want to share my deep concern for the young woman affected and her family.
“This is an extremely challenging situation that we have taken very seriously and has affected everyone in this program. The high standards I have established for this program will not change, and the values that we teach to everyone in this program will be enforced. I expect all of our players and staff to conduct themselves in a manner that reflect the ideals of this university.”
In February, the three players and a staffer were suspended from the team because of the sexual assault allegation.
According to the prosecutor's office, the staffer who was suspended will not be charged.
Also on Monday afternoon, Jones Day investigations released its internal investigation report for the Michigan State sexual assault allegations.
They found that Head Coach Mark Dantonio handled the situation properly and did no wrongdoing.
Jones Day Report by WXYZ-TV Channel 7 Detroit on Scribd
This is the second case of sexual assault involving the Michigan State football program.
Auston Robertson, 19, was charged with third-degree criminal sexual conduct on April 21. He's accused of forcing a woman to have sex with him at her apartment on April 8. Robertson was arrested two days later.
"The criminal sexual conduct charges announced today against Auston Robertson are of the most serious nature. Sexual assault has no place in our community. While there is an ongoing criminal process, we’re extremely disappointed that Auston put himself in this position. He is no longer a member of our football program," Dantonio said in a statement.
