Posted on 04/23/2019 4:23:57 PM PDT by L.A.Justice
LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Former Lakers coach Luke Walton has been accused of sexual assault, according to court documents obtained by ABC7 on Monday.
Plaintiff and sports broadcaster Kelli Tennant submitted a complaint against Walton for damages including sexual battery, gender violence, violation of the Ralph Act and sexual assault.
Tennant accuses Walton of forcibly groping her and kissing her while he was working as the Golden State Warriors' assistant coach.
Court documents reveal Walton and Tennant were discussing her book, in which he wrote the forward, when she says he pinned her to his hotel bed and kissed her. She claims he groped her breasts and groin area and continued despite her pleas to stop.
Walton's attorney Mark Baute released a statement saying, "The accuser is an opportunist, not a victim."
The statement read: "Luke Walton retained me to defend him against these baseless allegations. The accuser is an opportunist, not a victim, and her claim is not credible. We intend to prove this in a courtroom."
The Warriors put out this statement: "We became aware of the alleged incident and story this evening and are in the process of seeking more information. We'll have no further comment at this time."
Walton was the former head coach for the Los Angeles Lakers. He's now the head coach for the Sacramento Kings. The Kings issued a statement saying: "We are aware of the report and are gathering additional information. We have no further comment at this time."
The Lakers also issued a statement. The team said the alleged incident happened before he was coach for the team.
"This alleged incident took place before Luke Walton was the Head Coach of the Los Angeles Lakers. At no time before or during his employment here was this allegation reported to the Lakers. If it had been, we would have immediately commenced an investigation and notified the NBA. Since Luke Walton is now under contract to another team, we will have no further comment."
Fans are reeling from the news.
"It's too bad for someone that's so young because I know he has a family as well. So thoughts are going to what his family is probably going through. Not only that but his dad, too. He's such a legend in this town," said Oxnard resident Robert Cabrera.
https://sports.yahoo.com/report-luke-walton-sexual-assault-allegation-never-reported-to-police-194017749.html
I saw Luke Walton on TV talking about Lakers...He seemed to be a nice guy...I never heard him talk about things not related to basketball. His father Bill likes to talk about things not related to basketball, showing liberal bias in the process...
I saw Kelli on TV many times...She covered volleyball and soccer games...She did play volleyball at USC...She interviewed Coach Bruce Arena on TV about Landon Donovan...I think she did her job well.
In this case, I don't know why she did not file a police report...
What really happened in that hotel room? Only Kelli and Luke know the answer... Is it possible that they had a one-night stand? But, Kelli got upset that Luke did not want to leave his wife?
Or maybe Kelli was afraid to speak out while Luke was still in Los Angeles...He is probably moving to Sacramento since he got the job with Kings...
I think Kelli is a lovely lady...Her lawsuit might change my perception...It is possible that Luke did not do what was described in the lawsuit...
Sounds like a woman who is looking for her payday. If she were assaulted she would have reported it, after all the statues of limitations has not expired, but instead she wants money.
Bill Walton is very liberal, into weed, funny as hell though..he can yap pretty much about anything, like the time he stood next to the statue of John Wooden and talked to it for 20 min it was hilarious
Any relation to UCLA great Bill Walton?
John-Boy’s lost brother?
His son
Sound exactly the same
His father.
Use common sense and meet him in the hotel cafe, NOT in his bedroom with the doors locked.
I expect there will be cell phone records or a trail of emails discovered soon. This will show who was calling whom in the last few months. Did she suddenly start threatening to ‘tell everything’ if he didn’t pay her hush money, or KEEP paying such money?
If he did all this, it was wrong, and he’s not a gentleman, but he doesn’t need to be jailed and made bankrupt for it.
Good night, Luke. I said GOOD NIGHT Luke. LUKE, GOOD NIGHT...
Sounds like a woman who is looking for her payday. If she were assaulted she would have reported it, after all the statues of limitations has not expired, but instead she wants money.
Bill Walton is very liberal, into weed, funny as hell though..he can yap pretty much about anything, like the time he stood next to the statue of John Wooden and talked to it for 20 min it was hilarious
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I would not be surprised if there is some kind of financial settlement...I am not sure that this matter will ever go to trial...Luke will pay Kelli some money...The amount will not be disclosed...
Yes, Bill Walton could be funny...But, after a while, I get tired of listening to him...
I watched a PAC 10 tournament game this year with Bill Walton doing the commentary. I swear he had to be hitting the bong during the breaks. The worst kinds of rambling stonerisms.
Sorry to hear that. I hope the family comes out OK.
Sorry to hear that. I hope this will wake Bill up from his apparent stupor and they come out OK.
Saw the Clipper game last week where he was commentating, he was definitely high on something..had no clue who most of the players were, yeah he rambles on and on he sure does love that weed, must have done a doozy on his brain
Bill Walton used to be funny but now is such a non stop liberal Global Warming preacher you have to turn the sound off to watch.
The Ralph Act?! The timing seems odd... she waited till he was fired as Lakers coach?
His son... Played at Duke and in the NBA and has moved into coaching same.
Bill has always liked his weed...
That’s WHORRRRRIBLE, Marv! Just WHORRRRIBLE!
His son... Played at Duke and in the NBA and has moved into coaching same.
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Luke played for Lute Olson at Arizona actually...
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