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Mark Schlabach, ESPN senior writer
Penn State coach James Franklin refused to answer reporters’ questions Wednesday after two of his former players were accused by police of raping a 17-year-old girl in their apartment on July 7.
Former Nittany Lions defensive end Jameial Lyons, 19, is charged with rape, aggravated assault without consent, willful deviant sexual intercourse and misdemeanor counts of indecent assault without consent and molestation. privacy without consent.
Former Penn State linebacker Kaveion Keys, 19, is charged with rape, aggravated assault without consent and sexual assault and indecent assault without consent.
Lyons was released on $500,000 bail by Center County Judicial District Judge Donald M. Hahn during an arraignment Wednesday; Keys was released on $400,000 bail.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for October 30.
After Wednesday’s practice, a reporter began questioning Franklin about the criminal case. Franklin stepped away from the microphone and a university spokesperson read a prepared statement: “Regarding the two former Penn State football players, we issued a statement yesterday and our Department of Programs and Athletics did not will have no further comments.”
When another reporter tried to ask Franklin if he could fire the players, he walked away again.
“Again, guys, the university has already issued a statement,” the spokesperson said.
The Center Daily Times posted video of the exchange between Franklin and reporters on its social media accounts.
James Franklin declined to comment on rape accusations against former players. My story, with video (from @JacksonRanger1) of the question Franklin was asked:https://t.co/9pbLokyZag pic.twitter.com/JUMZWhMbOR
– Jon Sauber (@JonSauber) October 24, 2024
According to a criminal complaint and probable cause affidavit obtained by ESPN, the 17-year-old student told police she met Keys and Lyons at an off-campus apartment on July 6 and went to their apartment early the next morning.
The girl told police that Keys and Lyons provided alcohol to her and two other girls. While she was watching television with the players in Keys’ bedroom, according to the affidavit, the players smoked marijuana.
The girl told police that while she was trying to fall asleep, the players approached her from both sides and touched her without her consent. She told police the two men forced her to have oral sex with them.
She said the players raped her and she was unable to stop them because of their size. She told police that her arms were tied and that the players grabbed her by the neck and strangled her several times. She said she couldn’t breathe.
The girl told police she saw a camera flash, which she believed was from one of the players recording a video.
According to the affidavit, she “physically resisted and managed to escape.” She yelled and swore at Keys and Lyons. She tried to wake two other women in the apartment.
Lyons “grabbed the victim, carried her outside and dropped her on the ground,” according to police.
Police alleged Lyons told the girl, “F—-, you’ll never come back here and you’ll stay out of our lives.”
Another woman told police that after waking up in the apartment to vomit, Lyons took her to his bedroom. She told police she woke up without her pants on as Lyons sexually assaulted her.
On July 8, Penn State University police served a search warrant at the apartment and interviewed Lyons and Keys. Initially, Keys told police there were women in their apartment on July 7, but denied knowing the 17-year-old girl or having sex with any of the women.
Lyons told police he had sex with the 17-year-old girl and that Keys participated in the sexual encounter. The affidavit says Lyons “demonstrated the manner in which he held the girl’s arms and grabbed her by the neck.”
“Lyons expressed the belief that the contact was consensual; however, Lyons stated that he knew the victim would likely report the situation to the police,” the affidavit states.
Police reported that a “short video documenting indecent contact” with the 17-year-old was found on Keys’ cellphone camera roll.
Penn State suspended Lyons and Keys from the football team in August.
“We are aware of the serious accusations against Mr. Keys and Mr. Lyons, who are no longer enrolled at the university,” a university spokesperson said in a statement. “The safety of our community is our top priority, and Penn State takes any reports of sexual assault or misconduct very seriously and investigates all reports.”
Lyons, of Philadelphia, played in eight games as a freshman at Penn State in 2023. Keys, of Varina, Va., did not play and redshirted last season.