No charges filed in gang rape case involving former Bills punter Matt Araiza
Former Buffalo Bills and San Diego State University football punter Matt Araiza will not be charged in connection with the alleged gang rape of a minor, the San Diego District Attoney's Office announced Wednesday. The civil case remains ongoingThe now 18-year old woman alleged that Araiza, then 21, had sex with her in the yard of a house near the San Diego State campus on Oct. 17, 2021. Araiza allegedly then brought her inside the house, where she says she was raped by Araiza, Leonard and Ewaliko. The lawsuit says the woman, then a minor, immediately reported the alleged rape to friends and then to police the next day. After the Police Department investigated the allegations for nine months, it was not recommended that charges be filed when the case was submitted, the District Attorney’s Office said Wednesday.
wftv.comEx-Bills punter Araiza won't be charged in alleged gang rape
SAN DIEGO — (AP) — Former Buffalo Bills punter Matt Araiza will not be charged in connection with an alleged gang rape of a 17-year-old girl at an off-campus party last year when he played football for San Diego State University, prosecutors said Wednesday. “Ultimately, prosecutors determined it is clear the evidence does not support the filing of criminal charges and there is no path to a potential criminal conviction. Prosecutors can only file charges when they ethically believe they can be proven beyond a reasonable doubt,” the statement said. The lawsuit named Araiza along with former Aztec teammates Zaver Leonard and Nowlin “Pa’a” Ewaliko, who are no longer with the team. San Diego State officials have said they deferred investigating at the request of police for fear that conducting their own might harm the criminal investigation.
wftv.comWoman accusing former Buffalo Bills punter Matt Araiza and 2 others of gang rape shares her story
The woman who has accused former Buffalo Bills punter Matt Araiza and two others of gang rape in a new lawsuit is sharing her story. She says wants all three men to be criminally charged. Araiza, who denies the allegations, was released by the Bills over the weekend.
news.yahoo.comRaiders' Leatherwood, Browns' Rosen among wave of NFL cuts
Leatherwood was the 17th overall pick by the Raiders last year, and started all 17 games. The Cleveland Browns released quarterback Josh Rosen, a 2018 first-rounder by Arizona who was brought in as an extra arm in training camp while the team navigated Deshaun Watson's situation. Rosen was a possible option as the backup while Jacoby Brissett starts during Watson’s 11-game NFL suspension. The 25-year-old Rosen hasn’t lived up to expectations since being taken 10th overall by the Cardinals four years ago. He’s 3-13 as a starter in his NFL career, which also includes stops with Arizona, Miami, Tampa Bay, San Francisco and Atlanta.
wftv.comLawyer for ex-Buffalo Bills kicker Matt Araiza responds to rape allegation made against client
The Buffalo Bills have released 22-year-old rookie kicker Matt Araiza over a rape allegation. He and two others have been accused of gang-raping a 17-year-old girl during a party at a house while Araiza was attending San Diego State University. A lawsuit alleges Araiza knew she was underage and that she was intoxicated at the time. Araiza denies the allegations, and his lawyer, Kerry Armstrong, joined CBS News for an interview.
news.yahoo.comBuffalo Bills cut punter Matt Araiza in wake of sex assault allegation in San Diego
BUFFALO, N.Y. — The Buffalo Bills on Saturday said they released rookie punter Matt Araiza, two days after a civil lawsuit accused him and two other former members of the San Diego State University football team of raping a 17-year-old girl last year at an off-campus party. Bills release punter Matt Araiza after rape allegations in civil suithttps://t.co/6Y0COIAGnt pic.twitter.com/5ZIaVjDiRu — Buffalo News Sports (@TBNSports) August 28, 2022“This is bigger than football,” Bills general manager Brandon Beane said at a news conference Saturday night. Police in San Diego have not publicly identified any subjects or released details about a criminal investigation they conducted into the rape allegation, the newspaper reported. Araiza did not attend practice Saturday after being held out of Friday’s preseason game against the Carolina Panthers, ESPN reported. I look forward to quickly setting the record straight.”An attorney for Araiza denied the accusations against his client, The San Diego Union-Tribune reported.
wftv.comBills release punter Matt Araiza after gang rape allegation
The Bills opted then to keep Araiza even while being aware of the allegations made against him since late July. Haven’t slept a lot to be honest with you.”McDermott made the call to hold out Araiza from playing against Carolina. I look forward to quickly setting the record straight.”Without another punter on the roster, third-string quarterback Matt Barkley handled the punting duties. It’s unclear whether Araiza informed the NFL about the allegations in the months leading up to the draft. ___More AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl and https://apnews.com/hub/pro-32 and https://twitter.com/AP_NFLCopyright 2022 The Associated Press.
wftv.comBills release punter Matt Araiza after gang rape allegation
In the face of a major public backlash and internal questions over the decision to award Matt Araiza the punting job, the Buffalo Bills reversed course by cutting the rookie on Saturday, two days after a lawsuit was filed alleging the player and two college teammates gang-raped a teenager last fall.
Bills release punter Matt Araiza after gang rape allegation
In the face of a major public backlash and internal questions over the decision to award Matt Araiza the punting job, the Buffalo Bills reversed course by cutting the rookie on Saturday, two days after a lawsuit was filed alleging the player and two college teammates gang-raped a teenager last fall. The decision to cut ties with their sixth-round draft pick out of San Diego State comes after Buffalo cleared the way for Araiza to take over the punting duties by releasing returning veteran Matt Haack on Monday. The Bills opted then to keep Araiza even while being aware of the allegations made against him since late July.
news.yahoo.comBills' investigation of Araiza didn't include alleged victim
A person familiar with the case told the AP the Bills were not aware of the allegations against Araiza in April. A San Diego police investigation has been turned over to the district attorney’s office to determine whether to pursue charges. At San Diego State, one of the two remaining accused players remains on the roster but the other is not listed. The school said it did not investigate at the request of San Diego police in October. ___More AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl and https://apnews.com/hub/pro-32 and https://twitter.com/AP_NFLCopyright 2022 The Associated Press.
wftv.comBuffalo Bills Rookie Accused of Gang-Rape Urged Teen to Get STD Test, Lawsuit Says
Darren Yamashita/USA TODAY SportsA civil lawsuit filed in San Diego County Superior Court alleges that Matt Araiza, the Buffalo Bills rookie known as “Punt God,” was involved in the gang-rape of a drunk 17-year-old high-school senior while studying at San Diego State University last year. The suit alleges the incident happened at a Halloween party between Oct. 16 and 17 when the teen was plied with a drink that “not only contained alcohol, but other intoxicating substances” and assaulted by mult
news.yahoo.comBills punter Matt Araiza, 2 San Diego State players accused in rape lawsuit
SAN DIEGO — Three current and former San Diego State University football players -- including Buffalo Bills rookie punter Matt Araiza -- are accused of raping a 17-year-old girl last year at an off-campus party, according to court documents. “My client deserves justice, even if the defendants are prized athletes.”Lawsuit: 3 SDSU football players, including star punter now in NFL, accused of gang raping 17-year-old girl https://t.co/iVzGNG1RoK [Breaking] — The San Diego Union-Tribune (@sdut) August 26, 2022An attorney for Araiza denied the accusations against his client, The San Diego Union-Tribune reported. The teen, who has since turned 18, reported the alleged incident to the San Diego Police Department the next day, KNSD-TV reported. Leonard is listed on San Diego State’s fall football roster as a redshirt freshman. Araiza is not subject to punishment from the NFL because the alleged assault happened before he was drafted, the newspaper reported.
wftv.comAraiza, 2 SDSU teammates accused of gang rape in civil suit
The lawsuit, filed in San Diego County Superior Court, accuses Araiza, Zavier Leonard and Nowlin “Pa’a” Ewaliko of gang-raping a then-17-year-old girl at a Halloween party at a home where Araiza had been living. No arrests have been made and San Diego Police have not publicly identified any suspects. Leonard is listed on San Diego State's roster as a redshirt freshman offensive lineman from Arlington, Texas. She told Araiza, who was 21 at the time, that she was a high school senior, according to the lawsuit. Officers coached her on calling Araiza, which she did 10 days later as detectives recorded it, according to the complaint.
wftv.comBills cut Haack, clear the way for 'Punt God' to take over
With a nickname like “Punt God,” Matt Araiza has all but assured himself a spot on the Buffalo Bills' roster. The Bills cleared the way for the rookie sixth-round pick with the booming left leg out of San Diego State to take over the punting duties this season after releasing returning veteran Matt Haack on Monday. Buffalo also cut veteran receiver Tavon Austin, who has failed to meet expectations since being selected by the Rams in the first round of the 2013 draft.
news.yahoo.comBuffalo winter can't arrive soon enough for 'Punt God'
Arriving in Buffalo for the Bills' rookie minicamp, Matt Araiza was unhappy with the weather. “It’s funny because everyone was telling me how cold it was going to be here, how windy it was going to be here,” Araiza said Friday with a laugh. Araiza noting the near-perfect conditions traces to a desire to get accustomed to the winter chill and swirling winds that make the Bills’ home one of the NFL’s more challenging places for punters.
news.yahoo.comAraiza's booming punts carry No. 19 Aztecs to MWC title tilt
Standing in his own end zone, San Diego State’s Matt Araiza reached down for the low snap and — BOOM — lofted a punt that went over the head of the retreating San Jose State returner, landed at the 25-yard line and rolled to a stop at the 3. A week later, again lined up in his own end zone, this time in the thin, mile-high air at Air Force, Araiza let fly with an 81-yarder. Araiza is unquestionably the best player for the No. 19 Aztecs (11-1, 7-1), who will host Utah State (9-3, 6-2) in the Mountain West Conference championship game Saturday at their temporary home in Carson, a Los Angeles suburb.
news.yahoo.comNo. 22 SDSU, Boise State get early wake-up call for big game
While people around the country jostle for Black Friday deals or begin to pull out of Thanksgiving food comas, Boise State and No. 22 San Diego State will get an early wake-up call for a showdown at a soccer pitch in suburban Los Angeles that will help decide the Mountain West Conference’s division titles. San Diego State (10-1, 6-1, No. 21 CFP) heads into the 9 a.m. kickoff controlling its own destiny in the West, needing just a victory over the Broncos (7-4, 5-2) to clinch the division. Fresno State beat San Jose State on Thursday to stay alive in the West Division.
news.yahoo.comNo. 22 San Diego St. builds lead, holds off Air Force 20-14
San Diego St Air Force Football San Diego State cornerback Dallas Branch runs for a short gain after intercepting apass against Air Force in the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021, at Air Force Academy, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski) (David Zalubowski)AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. — (AP) — Matt Araiza kicked two field goals, Kaegun Williams and Chance Bell and ran for touchdowns and No. 22 San Diego State withstood Air Force's comeback bid to win 20-14 on Saturday night. San Diego State (7-0, 3-0 Mountain West) beat Air Force for a ninth straight time. San Diego State added to the lead on its first possession of the second half. San Diego State ran out the final 1:35.
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