Reports: BYU quarterback Jake Retzlaff sued for sexual assault
May 22 - BYU quarterback Jake Retzlaff was accused of sexual assault in a civil lawsuit filed Wednesday in Salt Lake (Utah) County, according to multiple media reports.
The lawsuit alleges that Retzlaff committed the assault in November 2023 at his home in Provo, Utah. The woman filing the lawsuit -- listed as Jane Doe A.G. -- has sued Retzlaff for alleged battery, assault and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
According to the lawsuit, one of the reasons for the delay between the alleged incident and the filing of the civil charges is that Provo police, when the alleged victim linked Retzlaff's name to the assault, suggested that she stay quiet because "sexual assault victims never get justice."
In a statement, Retzlaff attorney Mark Baute declared his client to be "factually innocent."
"I have met him, and he is a nice young man," said Baute, who successfully defended former NBA star Derrick Rose on federal sexual assault charges in 2016. "He is also factually innocent, and we look forward to proving that innocence. Jake's focus this year will be on football. We don't try cases in the media. We will respect the process and establish Jake's innocence through the judicial system."
The lawsuit describes Retzlaff, then 20, and the alleged victim as initiating contact via social media before Jane Doe and her friend visited Retzlaff's home in November 2023. After a period of time, the friend left and Retzlaff and Jane Doe started to watch a movie in his room and began kissing. The lawsuit says Jane Doe did not want to go any further and asked him to "stop," but Retzlaff eventually found a condom and assaulted her.
A few days later, she went to the hospital and a rape kit was used for purposes of gathering and preserving any potential evidence of assault. Doe also reportedly told Provo police of the incident at this time, yet did not invoke Retzlaff's name.
BYU released a statement Wednesday: "BYU became aware today that a civil lawsuit involving Jake Retzlaff had been filed this morning. The university takes any allegation very seriously, following all processes and guidelines mandated by Title IX. Due to federal and university privacy laws and practices for students, the university will not be able to provide additional comment."
Retzlaff, a California native who began his career playing for Riverside (Calif.) City College, transferred to BYU prior to the 2023 season. After starting the final four games of the 2023 season, Retzlaff won a training-camp battle to become the Cougars' regular quarterback in 2024. He led them to an 11-2 record that included an Alamo Bowl win over Colorado.
He finished the year with 2,947 passing yards, 20 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. The 6-foot-1, 205-pound redshirt senior is expected to reprise his role this fall.
--Field Level Media
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Telegraph
15 minutes ago
- Telegraph
California is losing the court of public opinion
In the on-going Battle of Los Angeles, California governor Gavin Newsom may have the law on his side – but his adversary president Donald Trump has the most powerful imagery. The conflict began in Los Angeles on Friday, when mobs of protestors attacked agents of the US Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE), who were trying to serve warrants on specific illegal immigrants at a Home Depot and also at a clothing store. On Saturday, during a protest in front of a nearby Department of Homeland Security (DHS) office, members of the crowd lit fires and threw rocks at federal officers, who defended themselves with tear gas and non-lethal ammunition. Later that day, president Trump authorised the deployment of 2000 members of the National Guard to protect the federal ICE agents; since then 700 American Marines have been added to the federal force. Governor Newsom and other leaders of the Democratic-dominated California have claimed that Trump's actions were not needed because local and state authorities had the situation under control. And yet on Sunday, following three days of violence and arrests, the Los Angeles Police Department declared downtown Los Angeles an 'unlawful assembly' area. And on Monday the state of California sued the Trump administration, claiming that Trump 'illegally acted to federalise the National Guard,' in the words of Newsom. Typically a governor requests a president to federalise and mobilise the National Guard to deal with riots or natural disasters. For example, consider the Los Angeles riots of 1992. It was sparked by the acquittal of four white police officers who beat a black motorist named Rodney King and it led to more than fifty deaths and a billion dollars of damage; in response a Republican California governor Pete Wilson asked a Republican president George HW Bush to federalise the National Guard. Not since 1965, when president Lyndon B. Johnson sent the National Guard to Alabama to protect civil rights demonstrators, has a president sent troops without a governor's request. While California officials might be able to make a legal case against the Trump administration, the state and the Democratic party risk losing in the court of public opinion. Viral photographs show masked rioters waving Mexican flags in front of burning cars and debris, supporting the Trump White House's inflammatory claims about an immigrant invasion. In a shrewd public relations move, the federal Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has released mug shots under the heading: 'ICE Captures Worst of the Worst Illegal Alien Criminals in Los Angeles Including Murderers, Sex Offenders, and Other Violent Criminals.' The rogues' gallery contains illegal immigrants from a number of countries including Vietnam, the Philippines, and Mexico, charged with offenses including attempted rape, assault with a deadly weapon, grand theft larceny, distribution of heroin and cocaine, wilful cruelty to a child and other serious crimes. Democrats recently succeeded in reversing the allegedly unlawful deportation to El Salvador of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, an illegal immigrant from El Salvador who was granted the right to remain in the US by a federal immigration judge. But on his return he was indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of being an MS-13 gang member who has smuggled thousands of illegal immigrants, drugs, and firearms in the US. Democratic strategists might ask whether someone like Abrego Garcia should be the face of the Democratic party. At least, unlike some of the rioters cavorting in front of burning wreckage in LA, he does not wear a mask.
The Guardian
17 minutes ago
- The Guardian
PM says journalist's shooting with rubber bullet raised with US; another embryo bungle at Monash IVF; and life behind a beauty counter
Welcome to Afternoon Update. The Los Angeles Police Department has responded to reports of media being hit with rubber bullets while covering protests in LA, saying 'we're very concerned about it and we're looking into that'. Nine's US correspondent Lauren Tomasi was hit with a rubber bullet on Monday and a British news photographer believed he was also likely hit over the weekend with a non-lethal round. Speaking at the National Press Club, Anthony Albanese described the footage, which appears to show an LAPD officer aiming in the direction of Tomasi, as 'horrific'. The prime minister said there was 'no ambiguity' that Tomasi was a reporter, and that the issue has been raised with the US administration. Monash IVF admits second bungled embryo implant, this time at Victorian clinic Erin Patterson denies lying about making herself vomit after fatal mushroom lunch New Zealand government sued over 'dangerously inadequate' emissions reduction plan RFK Jr to remove all members of CDC panel advising on US vaccines Public disorder breaks out in Northern Ireland town Ballymena after alleged sexual assault Israel preparing to deport Gaza aid boat activists, including Greta Thunberg Funk music pioneer Sly Stone has died aged 82. He leaves behind a career filled with influential, experimental and uplifting music that's soundtracked generations of dancefloors. 'If we have another three years like the last six years, the party will disappear.' Intense discussions are under way within the Liberal party about an alternative to the three-person administrative committee now in control of its New South Wales branch. Liberals who spoke to Guardian Australia take us inside the battle for the soul of the party in NSW. Sign up to Afternoon Update Our Australian afternoon update breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what's happening and why it matters after newsletter promotion The Climate Council issued the prediction on Tuesday, amid heightened demand for home batteries after the announcement of a $2.3bn federal government scheme to subsidise their purchase by 30% from July. Life outside work can be chaotic and grubby, but things are different behind the beauty counter: its strict code of conduct, its obsession with ritual and its insistence that perfection is possible between the hours of 10 and six. Perhaps you know someone with the same story as Chloe Elisabeth Wilson? Someone who went from casual employee to dedicated, dewy-skinned disciple. Today's starter word is: LIP. You have five goes to get the longest word, including the starter word. Play Wordiply. Enjoying the Afternoon Update? Then you'll love our Morning Mail newsletter. Sign up here to start the day with a curated breakdown of the key stories you need to know, and complete your daily news roundup. And follow the latest in US politics by signing up for This Week in Trumpland.
Daily Mail
40 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Chicago police officer 'accidentally' kills his partner while chasing suspect down hallway
A Chicago police officer was unintentionally shot and killed by her partner after they chased a suspect into an apartment building and encountered another person with a rifle. Officer Krystal Rivera, 36, a four-year veteran of the department, was gunned down just before 10pm on Thursday as she and fellow tactical officers from the Gresham District chased a suspect, believed to be armed, into a residential building. The foot pursuit took cops through a narrow hallway in a South Side apartment when in the chaos, Rivera's fellow officer fired, striking her in the back, mortally wounding her. Her partner, who has not been identified, was the only person who fired a weapon, and the 'gunfire unintentionally struck Officer Rivera,' city police said in a statement. Rivera died at a hospital late on Thursday night, less than an hour after being shot. She is survived by her 10-year-old daughter, Bella Medina. Colleagues brought Rivera to University of Chicago Medical Center in a squad car that crashed and caught fire because of a malfunction, according to Police Superintendent Larry Snelling. She was then transported in another squad car. Snelling called Rivera 'a hero' and 'a vibrant, young officer trying to keep the streets safe.' 'She had already taken two guns off the street earlier that same day,' Snelling said. 'She came to work to protect this city, and she paid the ultimate price.' Snelling confirmed that the officer who discharged the fatal round is not under criminal investigation, but is 'in a very, very tough place.' The trauma, he said, is 'unimaginable.' The officer who fired the shot has not been named, but sources confirmed he is a veteran of the force and is receiving departmental support while the investigation continues. 'We're always reviewing our practices,' Snelling said. 'But it's too early to say if this tragic incident will lead to policy changes.' 'Rivera represented everything we want our police officers to be,' said the Chicago Police Memorial Foundation in a statement. 'Smart, assertive, tough, compassionate and professional.' has approached Chicago Police Department for comment. The city's law enforcement community is still trying to process the loss. 'The entire city of Chicago is grieving and mourning together,' said Mayor Brandon Johnson. 'Officer Rivera served honorably and courageously. Her young, energetic, and bold approach toward keeping us safe is the memory we will honor.' Three firearms were recovered at the scene. Several individuals were detained. One suspect from the scene, Adrian Rucker, 25, remains in custody, though police have not said what charges he could face. The case is under internal investigation, and no criminal charges have been filed related to the shooting itself. Rivera's mother, Yolanda Rivera, told the Chicago Sun-Times that her daughter had long dreamed of being a police officer since she was young. She remembers her daughter calling herself 'Wonder Woman' and setting her sights on the badge as a little girl. She wasn't a straight shot into the academy and actually failed a section of the test at first, but she didn't give up. 'I told her just weeks ago to get a desk job,' Yolanda recalled. 'She kept saying, "Mom, I'm gonna be OK."' Rivera earned a reputation within the Gresham District as a tough but compassionate cop. 'For me, it's a privilege,' Rivera told the Sun-Times when she graduated from the academy in 2021. 'I come from a family of serving. To help people in need, that's my calling.' For Rivera's family, no policy or reform will fill the void she's left behind, particularly her young daughter. Her 11th birthday party was just days away and her mother had been helping plan every detail. That morning, Bella said her mother hugged her a little longer than usual. 'When she said bye, it's like she had a feeling,' Bella said. 'She gave me the biggest hug, biggest kiss and she said, "If anything happens, I'm always right here," in my heart.' It was the last time Bella would ever see her mother alive. 'She never got to wear those boots she was so excited about,' Bella said. 'She found them at Ross. She loved fashion and her job.' On rainy days the pair would movies and colored together. Rivera, a single mother, loved action flicks and Jim Carrey comedies. She dreamed of one day living on a farm in neighboring Wisconsin. 'I want to go home with her,' Bella said. 'I don't want my whole life to change.' The Chicago Police Memorial Foundation has pledged to provide financial and emotional support to Rivera's family. Police say Rivera's death marks the eighth on-duty CPD shooting death since 2018.
