A disturbing s-x crime case is developing in Nashville, Tenn, with striking similarities to the Steubenville High School case. Over the weekend, four Vanderbilt University football players named in an alleged rape case were joined by a fifth student who reportedly tried to his help teammates cover up evidence.
In June, Vanderbilt suspended Cory Batey, 19 of Nashville, Tenn.; Brandon Banks, 19, of Brandywine, Md.; Jaborian “Tip” McKenzie, 19, of Woodville, Miss.; and Brandon Vandenburg, 20, of Indio, Calif. over charges of aggravated sexual assault of an unconscious female friend of one of the players in a dorm room.The players were kicked off the team and banned from the campus on June 29 and later charged.
The arraignment for the men has been set for August 21, with McKenzie as the lone man to enter a not guilty plea and waived his right to appear.
Chris Boyd, 21, turned himself in to Nashville police Sunday (August 18) morning for his role in trying to help his teammates out of their bind; he was indicted on Friday (August 16).
Along with the Vanderbilt Commodores players, two additional men from California were also indicted on Friday in connection for tampering with evidence. Miles Finley, 19, of Bermuda Dunes, Calif., and Joseph Quinzio, 20, of Palm Desert, Calif., were arrested in their home state and are said to be friends with Vandenburg.
Although details have been slowly emerging since the case came to light, little has been confirmed by police officials about what actually took place. According to several reports, the players were drinking at local bar the Tin Roof. After leaving the establishment, the 21-year-old female victim joined Vandenburg and the players in his dorm room.
The case came to the attention of the university after surveillance video showed the four men previously charged behaving strangely on camera the night of the reported assault (June 23).
Former Tennessee Volunteers quarterback Erik Ainge speculated on his radio talk show that after Vandenburg had sex with the victim, he allegedly urged his teammates to do the same against her will. CBS reports that all but one of the players are out on bond; Vandenburg remains jailed on $350,000 and was hailed as a standout recruit for the team.
According to Nashville authorities, the case could net more arrests.
“We are looking at all persons who may have been involved in this event, before, during and after the fact,” Nashville Police Department Chief Steve Anderson said. “Additional charges cannot be ruled out.”
[Props to Gawker]
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Photo: Vanderbilt University Football
