Names, Details Released As 3 MSU Football Players Charged With Criminal Sexual Conduct

EAST LANSING (WWJ) - Following a months-long investigation, criminal sexual conduct charges have been filed against three Michigan State University football players in connection with an alleged assault on campus.

The players charged by the Ingham County Prosecutor's Office are Donny Corley, Josh King and Demetric Vance. Each is charged with third degree criminal sexual. In addition, King is charged with first degree criminal sexual conduct and distributing an image of an unclothed person.

Arrest warrants for all three were issued Tuesday morning, following a hearing in 54-B District Court.

Michigan State University police allege that King pulled a young woman into an apartment bathroom on Jan. 16 of this year, pulled down her pants and raped her. He then allegedly allowed Corley and Vance into the bathroom and forced her to perform oral sex on them against her will.

Vance, 20, is a redshirt defensive back from Detroit. Corley, 19, is a receiver from Detroit. King, also 19, is a freshman defensive end from Darien, Illinois.

Corley and Vance face up to 15 years in prison if convicted as charged. King faces up to life.

"These are very difficult charges and there's not a lot of defenses to these; consent would be the obvious defense," said WWJ Legal Analyst Langton. "But if that's the case, then these people would actually have to testify, and that would be difficult."

"Credibly of the complaining witness, always an issue here," Langton added, "but I can say right now these are very serious charges."

Speaking live on WWJ Newsradio 950, attorney Karen Truszkowski — who represents the alleged victim —explained that the additional charge faced by King "has to do with a video that was taken without the knowledge or consent of (her) client," who is between the ages of 18 and 21 years old.

She said the victim was acquainted with one of the one of the defendants prior to the alleged assault, but she had never met the other two.

University President Lou Anna Simon said a recently concluded independent review of MSU's response to the allegations showed compliance by MSU Football Coach Mark Dantonio.

Per Dantonio, all three players charged have been dismissed from the football program.

Siemon said that no MSU football staffers would be charged. At the time of the investigation, staff member Curtis Blackwell was suspended and his contract was not renewed.

Truszkowski says these charges bring attention to issues surrounding current attitudes towards sexual misconduct on campus.

"..We have all these other assaults, these other cases coming forward," Truszkowski said. "It does make one take pause as to what's going on at the university, and every other university pretty much."

"...There seems to be a culture of, 'Do what you need to do, and we'll look the other way,'" she said. "And it just fosters a sense of entitlement I think, and then these young women and sometimes young men end of being victimized by that sense of entitlement and that culture...It's a systemic problem in the university system."

Truszkowski said an arraignment for the three players charged was expected to take place either Tuesday or Wednesday.