NFL rookie punter Matt Araiza is let go from the Buffalo Bills after he was accused of raping a teen girl in a lawsuit

“This afternoon, we chose that releasing Shiny Araiza was the best thing to do. Our culture within Buffalo is more essential than winning soccer games, ” team general manager Brandon Beane announced upon Saturday.
Araiza and 2 other current or even former San Diego Condition University football gamers are accused of gang raping the lady at a Halloween celebration last year, according to case filed Thursday from the attorney for the plaintiff identified in court documents as “Jane Doe. ”
Araiza and his co-defendants, Zavier Leonard plus Nowlin “Pa’a” Ewaliko, were on North park State’s football group at the time of the alleged incident last Oct.
Araiza’s attorney, Kerry Armstrong, told CNN Friday his client failed to rape the accuser.
“The facts from the incident are not what exactly they are portrayed in the legal action or in the press. I look forward to quickly setting the report straight, ” Araiza said in a statement issued through his attorney.
Jane Doe states she attended a party in the San Diego area with friends, but was separated from them whenever she met Araiza, according to the claim. The filing further claims Araiza “could notice that Doe was seriously intoxicated” and “handed her a drink anyhow. ”
“Doe informed Araiza that she went to Grossmont High School. Araiza, who was 21 years of age, knew or should have known that Doe was a minor, inch the complaint states.
Araiza’s attorney disputed the claim, saying, “He certainly not used any power against her. She was not visibly drunk. He did not hand her a drink along with anything in it. inch
The complaint says Araiza led the girl to some bedroom where “there were at least 3 other men already in the bedroom, inch including Leonard and Ewaliko, who were both at least 18 at that time.
“Doe was raped for approximately an hour and a half until the party was shut down. Doe stumbled out from the room bloody and crying, ” stated the complaint.
The girl reported the alleged incident the next day to the San Diego Police Department and underwent a rape examination at a medical center, according to the lawsuit.
Nowlin “Pa’a” Ewaliko’s lawyer Marc Carlos told CNN in a phone interview he sees several issues with Doe’s credibility and the circumstances under which she documented the event. “The filing of the civil fit is clearly an attempt to put pressure in the DA to file a case, ” he mentioned. Ewaliko is not enrollment at SDSU this semester, according to Carlos.
Zavier Leonard’s attorney Jahmal Kersey declined in order to comment but informed CNN they are aware of the lawsuit.
The Hillcrest County District Lawyer’s Office said the investigation is under review, but did not indicate when a getting decision will be produced.
Hillcrest State released a statement saying this “takes allegations of sexual assault seriously, ” but was unable to release specific information on the case due to privacy concerns stating the allegations were still under “active college investigation. ” The particular statement said more a violation of the university’s student code of conduct could potentially result in “suspension, dismissal or expulsion. inch
The particular Buffalo Bills had been made aware of the allegations in late Come july 1st, when they were approached by a representative of the alleged victim, Beane said in an information conference Saturday.
“The final 48 has been very difficult for a lot of people. Novice tough, and we empathize with this whole situation, all the parties included, ” Beane stated.
“Ultimately, this is a legal scenario. We don’t know all of the facts and that’s what makes it hard, but at the moment we just think it is the best move for everybody to move on from Matt and allow him to take care of this situation plus focus on that, inch Beane added. “So, we’re going to part methods there. ”