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Kyle Bonagura
A lawyer representing BYU quarterback Jake Retzlaff denied allegations in a lawsuit that his shopper raped, strangled and bit a girl in 2023.
In a response to the lawsuit within the Third Judicial District Court docket in Utah filed Friday, Retzlaff’s lawyer wrote: “Mr. Retzlaff particularly and categorically denies each and all allegations that he bit, raped or strangled [the woman], that are ridiculous and weird allegations, all of that are false and unfaithful.”
The response states that Retzlaff and the lady, recognized within the lawsuit filed in Might as Jane Doe A.G., had consensual intercourse at Retzlaff’s condominium in November 2023 and that that they had lighthearted textual content messages exchanges into February 2024. It additionally characterizes the lawsuit as an extortion try based mostly on the concept Retzlaff developed into an NFL prospect roughly a 12 months after their encounter.
The unique criticism and the response agree that Retzlaff and the lady linked by means of social media, which led to her visiting Retzlaff’s condominium to play video video games on or round Nov. 22, 2023. The girl arrived with a buddy and there have been mates and teammates of Retzlaff additionally current, in line with the lawsuit.
Later that night, the lady’s buddy left, after which Retzlaff and the lady began watching a film, the lawsuit states.
“In some unspecified time in the future they started to kiss, however Jane Doe A.G. didn’t wish to do something extra,” the lawsuit states. “Retzlaff started escalating the scenario … and Jane Doe A.G. tried to de-escalate the scenario and tried to sluggish issues down, attempting to drag away, and saying ‘wait.’ She didn’t wish to do something sexual with him.”
The lawsuit says that the lady informed Retzlaff “no” and “wait, cease,” however that he continued to pressure himself on her. After she tried to stand up out of the mattress, the lawsuit alleges that Retzlaff put his arms round her neck and proceeded to rape her.
“It harm so unhealthy and prompted a lot ache that Jane Doe A.G. handed out,” the lawsuit states. “Jane Doe A.G. remembers tears rolling down her face as she fought to breathe.”
A number of days later, the lady visited the hospital, the place a rape equipment was carried out and footage of her accidents had been taken. The lawsuit says she was linked with Provo police however didn’t initially present Retzlaff’s title.
After the lawsuit was filed, BYU issued the next assertion:
“The college takes any allegation very severely, following all processes and tips mandated by Title IX. Resulting from federal and college privateness legal guidelines and practices for college students, the college will be unable to offer further remark.”
Separate from the allegations of rape, an admission of consensual premarital intercourse constitutes a violation of BYU’s honor code. In keeping with the varsity web site, punishment for honor code violations can vary from a warning to expulsion. A particular punishment for premarital intercourse shouldn’t be stipulated, however there have been situations of high-profile athletes being suspended for having premarital intercourse up to now.
In 2011, basketball participant Brandon Davies was dismissed from the workforce — which on the time was 27-2 and ranked No. 3 within the nation — and suspended from college. He was reinstated that fall.
In 1999, operating again Reno Mahe was suspended from college and compelled to go away the soccer workforce. He transferred to a junior school and later reenrolled at BYU.