Posted on 01/01/2004 5:29:22 PM PST by 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.
OSU just scored as I type this, I hope Kansas gets demolished....
Coach has rules, QB breaks rules, but evidently they don't mean as much as winning....
Pity that the Fiesta Bowl is gonna move to Glendale (Bleah!) in a few years to our new taxpayer extorted stadium for the feckless Cardinals.
Present!
But it's much more comfortable watching it from a cozy living room with a cold one, and not fighting the congestion around Mill Ave.
Besides, all I have to do is open my window and listen to the cheers when OSU scores, lol.
Now that sucks!
Yes, they are being very OBVIOUS about it. I detest ABC sports, but what do you expect from a network that employs the likes of Peter Jennings and Diane Sawyer!
I don't know if the man is guilty of anything other than breaking curfew at this point. However, break curfew at Ohio State, and see what happens! Oh well..I guess I'm just from the "old school" where rules actually meant something.
JMHO, az
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