Three SDSU football players including Buffalo Bills' Matt Araiza accused of gang-raping teen girl at party
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA: Buffalo Bills rookie punter Matt Araiza is allegedly being accused of gang-raping a 17-year-old girl last year while at San Diego State University. According to the Los Angeles Times, Araiza, known as "Punt God" for his ability to punt the football 70 to 80 yards, is facing a civil lawsuit that was filed on Thursday, August 25 in California.
According to the report, the 22-year-old and two other football players from San Diego State are accused of having sex with the minor at an off-campus party. The victim claims that throughout the incident, she was in and out of consciousness. Zavier Leonard and Nowlin "Pa'a" Ewaliko are the other two people listed in the lawsuit as defendants.
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Araiza's attorney, Kerry Armstrong who denied the accusations said that they were made because of his client's newly acquired fame. "It’s a shakedown because he’s now with the Buffalo Bills,” Armstrong said. There is no doubt in my mind that Matt Araiza ever raped that girl."
According to the lawsuit, the woman claimed Araiza gave her a drink at the party that "not only contained alcohol, but other intoxicating substances." She also claims that after telling Araiza that she was a high school student and that he was aware of her obvious intoxication, he still demanded that she engage in oral sex.
Also, she states Araiza took her into a separate room with Leonard, Ewaliko, and at least one other man, where they allegedly threw her on the bed and started raping her for an hour and a half. She allegedly claims that while it was happening, she saw a light that looked like a video from a cell phone. She claims that she had her piercings removed, including her nose, belly button, and ears.
The report says, the girl went to the city's police station the following day, where she waited for five hours before an officer spoke and later she underwent a thorough rape examination after being taken to the hospital.
According to the lawsuit, San Diego police detectives scheduled a number of calls with the men they thought were present when the rape took place, including Araiza, Leonard, and Ewaliko. Police listened to and recorded the calls that the woman made to each of the men during what are known as "pretext" calls. The lawsuit claimed that during one call, Araiza allegedly acknowledged having sex with the teen and advised her to get tested for STDs. However, Araiza's tone changed and he replied, "This is Matt Araiza. I don't recall anything that happened that night," and hung up when the teen asked if they had "actual sex," as directed by the detectives.
Araiza's lawyer said that he doesn't believe the woman was under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Araiza, a record-breaker in college, recently won Buffalo's starting punting position after impressing during the preseason, including with an 82-yard rocket in the team's opening preseason game. His reputation as the "Punt God" in the NFL reached new heights after the kick went viral. Also he earned unanimous All-American honors and won the Ray Guy Award.