NFL Punter, 2 SDSU Football Players Accused In Rape Lawsuit

SAN DIEGO, CA — Three current and former San Diego State University football players — including NFL punter Matt Araiza — were accused in a lawsuit filed Thursday of raping an underage girl at an off-campus house party last year.

The suit alleges Araiza, Zavier Leonard and Nowlin "Pa'a" Ewaliko raped the then-17-year-old last October while she was heavily intoxicated.

The filing of the lawsuit marks the first time any students have been specifically identified in the case, which drew criticism from some regarding the timing of the university's investigation into the allegations.

SDSU launched a Title IX investigation last month, and in a statement said the school was advised by police that it could not conduct its own inquiry without potentially compromising the police department's criminal investigation.

In its statement, SDSU noted that Title IX investigations lack the warrant or subpoena power available to law enforcement investigations, and that universities cannot compel participation by either the victim or accused. If a student violated policy, the maximum possible punishment available is expulsion.

The San Diego Police Department later announced that it has completed its investigation and submitted the results of their probe to the San Diego County District Attorney's Office for review and possible filing of criminal charges.

No arrests have been made so far.

In the complaint, the teen — identified as Jane Doe — attended a Halloween party on Oct. 17 with three friends at a house where Araiza lived.

The suit alleges Araiza "could observe that Doe was heavily intoxicated" but handed her a drink anyway. The suit claims the drink contained not just alcohol, but also "other intoxicating substances." It also alleges Doe informed Araiza that she was attending high school at the time.

Later, the suit alleges Araiza led her to the side yard of the house and told her to perform oral sex on him, which she did, then he had sex with her.

Araiza then allegedly led her to a bedroom and threw her onto a bed, where he, Leonard and Ewaliko took turns raping her over the course of 90 minutes. During the rapes, Doe could see a light as though someone was recording the incident with a cell phone, the suit alleges.

After reporting the incident to San Diego police, the suit states that detectives arranged for her to make "pretext" phone calls with the men.

During a call with Araiza, the suit alleges he "confirmed having sex with Doe, even telling her that she should get tested for STDs." When she asked him directly again whether they had sex, he allegedly said, "This is Matt Araiza. I don't remember anything that happened that night" and immediately hung up.

Araiza, a San Diego native dubbed "Punt God" for the accuracy and distance of his kicking, was drafted by the Buffalo Bills earlier this year.

In a statement, the Bills said, "We were recently made aware of a civil complaint involving Matt from October 2021. Due to the serious nature of the complaint, we conducted a thorough examination of this matter. As this is an ongoing civil case legal, we will have no other comment at this point."

— City News Service