Kansas State QB Ell Roberson Named as Sexual Assault Suspect on Eve of Fiesta Bowl

bucknuts.com ^

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Roberson Named In Sexual Assault Complaint By Steve Helwagen Managing Editor Date: Jan 1, 2004

Kansas State quarterback Ell Roberson was named as a suspect in a sexual assault investigation by police in Paradise Valley, Ariz. The alleged assault occurred at 3:30 a.m. this morning at the team hotel. Police say Roberson was in custody for 10 hours, but has not been charged. His status for Friday's Fiesta Bowl was unclear. Click here for more details.

Kansas State quarterback Ell Roberson was in police custody for 10 hours earlier today as they investigated a sexual assault complaint against him.

Roberson, 23, is named in a complaint filed with the Paradise Valley, Ariz., police department. His accuser, a female alumnus of Kansas State and a resident of Kansas, claims he attacked her at about 3:30 a.m. this morning at the team's hotel, the Scottsdale Plaza Resort.

However, Lt. Ron Warner of the Paradise Valley Police Department said Roberson has not been formally charged.

"No physical arrest is expected at this point," Warner told Bucknuts.com. "No physical evidence was found in the room. There were no evident physical injuries to the victim. She was examined medically and we await the results of that exam next week."

According to Warner, his department would then turn over its files to county attorney Rick Romley's office for a determination as to whether criminal charges will be filed.

"That would be determined by our county attorney if there is sufficient evidence to support a charge," Warner said.

Warner said Roberson told police that he has consensual sex with the alleged victim. The room involved was neither that of Roberson nor the woman.

Warner says police decided to issue a news release on the situation after a media inquiry.

As of 7 p.m. Eastern time, there had been no announcement from Kansas State officials or K-State head coach Bill Snyder regarding Roberson's status for Friday's Fiesta Bowl game against Ohio State.

According to one media report, KSU athletic director Ken Weiser said Snyder would decide Roberson's status for the game.

Lt. Warner told Bucknuts.com he met with Kansas State's chief of police at about 4:30 a.m. this morning to discuss the investigation. It is reasonable to assume that Snyder knew of the ongoing investigation when he met with the media this morning at 8:30 a.m. Roberson's status was not discussed at the media session.

"They were certainly aware of it," Lt. Warner said.

According to Lt. Warner, he was summoned to the hotel by Gordon Richards, head of security at the Scottsdale Plaza Resort.

"The victim reported it to the security officer at the hotel," Lt. Warner said. "There is evidence to support that they (Roberson and his accuser) knew each other previous to this incident. But there is no indication there was a sexual relationship."

Both Roberson and his accuser were interviewed at the Paradise Valley police headquarters. Roberson remained in police custody from about 4 a.m. until he was released at 2 p.m. The Kansas State team held its final practice at Sun Devil Stadium at 4 p.m. It is unclear whether Roberson attended that practice session.

A collection of media members covering both teams ventured to the K-State team hotel early this evening seeking an update on Roberson's status, but were turned away and escorted from the grounds by hotel security.

Roberson was the driving force behind Kansas State's 11-3 Big 12 championship team this year. The three-year starter earned third-team All-Big 12 honors after rushing for 943 yards and 13 touchdowns and throwing for 2,251 yards and 24 scores.

If Roberson is ruled ineligible for the Fiesta Bowl, Kansas State would likely turn to senior Jeff Schwinn. Schwinn started two early season games while Roberson was injured, including the loss to Marshall. For the year, the 6-2, 205-pound Schwinn completed 37 of 68 passes for 563 yards with one touchdown and three interceptions.

When and if Kansas State issues a statement regarding Roberson, we will update this report.

[LisaMalia]

Unless the story is about Democratic corruption, abuse of power or perfidy. Then the media's noses are vigorously sniffing elsewhere.

Amen to that, my friend.

[KneelBeforeZod]

If Roberson is ruled ineligible for the Fiesta Bowl,

If??? if??? you could be accused of murder with 3 witnesses and these football factories would play you anyway.

[Nick Danger]

a female alumnus

Gives a whole new meaning to "booster."

Gives a whole new meaning to "alumnus" as well.

Gallia est omni surrendered in partes tres.

[cyncooper]

What is a "nice" woman doing out at a player's hotel after midnight?

I don't know whose room it was, but it wasn't his. From the article:

The room involved was neither that of Roberson nor the woman.

Now, I draw no conclusion from this, but I do know she did not go to his room. Maybe it was a fellow teammate's room or an empty room they snuck in and she was consenting the whole time. Or the fact that it is not the player's room goes against him. More facts, which I'm sure the police are gathering, would need to be presented to make sense of it.

[TeleStraightShooter]

and I was looking forward to an entertaining game. This puts a pall on things.

Not to mention a major tremor through the KSU camp!

I recall two other "big" games & personel problems having a major affect on the outcome:
Atlanta vs Denver Superbowl: Atlanta's all-pro(?) conerback was busted for soliciting a undercover female cop, I do not belive he played, and Denver explotied the replacement ragged.

Oakland vs Tampa Bay in last Superbowl: Oakland's all-pro center(?) had a true mental episode and was kicked off the team. Since he called the blocks, Oakland was off tempo all game.

Most Las Vegas lines were @ -7.5 KSU, now off, or OSU favored.
http://www.vegas.com/gaming/sportsline_ncaaf.html

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Thanks for the historical perspective. Particularly when the player involved is the star QB, you have to assume this bodes very badly for KSU, whether or not he plays.

[Dante3]

I recall Paterno played a QB who had beat up a cop.

As to the woman, she reportedly was an acquaintance of this QB and an alumna of KSU.

You would think after Kobe's scandal even morons would learn.

[NEPA]

I recall Paterno played a QB who had beat up a cop.

IIRC, Rashard Casey was accused but a grand jury failed to indict him. It seems the cop had a bug up his ass for black jocks hitting on white women.

[mewzilla]

What is a "nice" woman doing out at a player's hotel after midnight?

What's a player with a game to play doing screwing around at 3:30 in the morning?

[mewzilla]

Casey didn't beat up the cop. He allegedly stood by, close enough to get the victim's blood on his shoes, and watched his buddy do it. Nice guy, huh?

[governsleastgovernsbest]

I just watched SportsCenter, and amazingly, all that was mentioned was that the KSU coach might suspend Roberson for violating the team curfew. Not a word about the sexual assault allegation.

[janee]

Let him play and replace the name on his jersey with SELFISH! ....how minor the charges, be it just 11PM curfew, he's just another selfish athlete.

[Sunshine Sister]

It's my understanding from local radio that the charges had already been dropped. Is that wrong?

[af_vet_1981]

"The victim reported it to the security officer at the hotel," Lt. Warner said. "There is evidence to support that they (Roberson and his accuser) knew each other previous to this incident. But there is no indication there was a sexual relationship."

If the DNA fits they will probably charge him.

[rwfromkansas]

If he did it, I hope he gets tossed in jail for a long time. It is K-State's luck that this broke right before the big game today.

The examination did not reveal even the slightest evidence that this woman was assaulted, but further examination results are pending.

Since those results will not be back for awhile, he should play tonight I think, though the fact that he broke curfew should be taken seriously and maybe he should not play just on account of that since he is a major team leader and K-State should be held to higher standards. The coach will have a tough decision. If he doesn't play, we very well could lose this game. Plus, he has not been charged with anything and the police seem pretty conflicted about who is telling the truth based on their comments; this really is just a he said, she said situation. But, if he does play, what message does that send about violating the rules and acting like you are somebody special?

If she is making this up, why would a K-State alumna do that?

[af_vet_1981]

It's my understanding from local radio that the charges had already been dropped. Is that wrong?

He has not been charged yet. They are waiting on lab results that prove whether he had sex with her.

[rwfromkansas]

From my memory of local news reports last night, it was some big team room that everybody seems to use.

I guess the horndog couldn't wait to get to his own room.

[rwfromkansas]

The problem is, there is no physical evidence of rape.

[rwfromkansas]

But, there are further testing results that will be forthcoming, probably next week.

[rwfromkansas]

If I was a reporter, I would have done the same thing...going to the hotel. If you don't say something, we think you are hiding something and will do whatever we can to find out what.