3 Michigan State Football Players Charged, Kicked Off Team: Video

(Updated) EAST LANSING, MI — Criminal sexual conduct charges were filed Tuesday against three Michigan State University football players accused in a January on-campus rape of a female student. The three players also were kicked out of the football program by Spartan Coach Mark Dantonio, who said in a Tuesday news conference that he is “angry” and feels betrayed.

Those charged include defensive lineman Josh King, 19, of Darien,Illinois, who was charged by the Ingham County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office with one count of first-degree criminal sexual conduct, one count of third-degree criminal sexual conduct and one count of capturing an image of an unclothed person. His two teammates — wide receiver Donnie Corley, 19, and safety Demetric Vance, 20, both of Detroit — are charged with a count each of third-degree criminal sexual conduct.

Both Dantonio and Athletic Director Mark Hollis addressed the media. Dantonio said Michigan State University talked to the Spartan football players a week before the January incident. “The education was there,” he said.

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He said the three players “put themselves in compromising position and did not live up to the standards we have outlined for this program.”

Dantonio said sexual assaults have no place on the Michigan State campus or any campus. On-campus sexual assaults “are issues that need to be explored” around the country, he said.

(Our earlier June 6, 2017, report) EAST LANSING, MI — Criminal charges will go forward against three Michigan State University football players accused in a January on-campus rape of a female student, Ingham County Prosecuting Attorney Carol Siemon’s office said late Monday in a news release. The football players’ names haven’t been released.

The charges come nearly four months after Michigan State University Police began investigating the incident. The three players were suspended from team activities in February. A member of the Spartan football staff also was suspended by the MSU Athletic Department, but will not be charged.

“Our office also reviewed charges against an individual who previously worked for the Michigan State University football program,” Siemon said in the statement. “This did not concern any allegation of criminal sexual conduct. After review, I have declined to issue charges and no warrant will be issued. It is our practice not to release names of suspects in denied cases.”

The charging decision was announced the same day MSU’s board of trustees met with and issued a statement of support for football Coach Mark Dantonio, Athletic Director Mark Hollis and MSU President Lou Anna K. Simon. Also released by trustees on Monday was an external investigation into the football program’s handling of two sexual assault allegations involving its players.

In the 14-page report, the investigators with the Jones Day law firm said there was no evidence that Dantonio violated MSU’s relationship violence and sexual misconduct policy. The report also cleared senior leaders with the football program and Athletic Department with impeding, covering up or obstructing the Office of Institutional Equity’s investigation into the two sexual assault violations.

The former Spartan staff member, who was not offered a contract renewal after the investigation began, was found to be in violation of the school policy, according to the report. The staff member declined an interview, so investigators said they were unable to determine the severity of his involvement.

Photo by Ed Schipul via Flickr Commons