A rape investigation involving three University of Arkansas basketball players has been announced "closed."
5News was there when Washington County Prosecuting Attorneys made the decision to make no arrests and pursue no charges in this investigation. Washington County Deputy Prosecutor Dustin Roberts told 5News: "based on the evidence that we have, there are no charges that are going to be filed. At this time, we are closing the investigation, officially."
Roberts says they drew their evidence from the victim, the basketball players allegedly involved, witnesses in the room, and UAPD reports. "There is not enough evidence to go forward to charge a crime."
The evidence prosecutors do have comes from statements from the 19-year-old victim. Prosecutors say she told them she had been drinking and was at a fraternity party at the Fiji house on the U of A campus when three university basketball players raped her.
But based on their investigation, Roberts says no arrests will be made because there is not enough evidence a rape occurred. "Right before any of the sexual acts happened there were numerous witnesses to this provocative dancing between her and the three basketball players. The basketball players' story is that she was dancing provocatively, and they made indication that she wanted to perform oral sex on them and it progressed from there. Based on the witnesses - basically the frat boys that were there, they confirmed what the basketball players were saying. Based on the evidence we have, it seems to be consensual. She has not, um, changed her story or anything like that. We have spoken to her today, um, essentially she's having, uh, she doesn't remember a lot of the incidents." Roberts says witnesses claim the victim had an argument with a fraternity member just after the incident. "She came out of the room, had kind of a heated argument right there, but she doesn't remember that." Roberts says the victim allegedly may have been too drunk to remember what happened before or after the event, but he says witnesses say the victim was not too drunk to say no to what was happening. "She says that she talked to them before and after. Her friends said she was talking to them before and after." So is she frustrated? Roberts says, "I would imagine so. I mean that would be speculation on my part."
Right now, Roberts says there's not really an area that needs to be explored further, but if something new comes to light the case could be re-opened.
5News was there when Washington County Prosecuting Attorneys made the decision to make no arrests and pursue no charges in this investigation. Washington County Deputy Prosecutor Dustin Roberts told 5News: "based on the evidence that we have, there are no charges that are going to be filed. At this time, we are closing the investigation, officially."
The evidence prosecutors do have comes from statements from the 19-year-old victim. Prosecutors say she told them she had been drinking and was at a fraternity party at the Fiji house on the U of A campus when three university basketball players raped her.
But based on their investigation, Roberts says no arrests will be made because there is not enough evidence a rape occurred. "Right before any of the sexual acts happened there were numerous witnesses to this provocative dancing between her and the three basketball players. The basketball players' story is that she was dancing provocatively, and they made indication that she wanted to perform oral sex on them and it progressed from there. Based on the witnesses - basically the frat boys that were there, they confirmed what the basketball players were saying. Based on the evidence we have, it seems to be consensual. She has not, um, changed her story or anything like that. We have spoken to her today, um, essentially she's having, uh, she doesn't remember a lot of the incidents." Roberts says witnesses claim the victim had an argument with a fraternity member just after the incident. "She came out of the room, had kind of a heated argument right there, but she doesn't remember that." Roberts says the victim allegedly may have been too drunk to remember what happened before or after the event, but he says witnesses say the victim was not too drunk to say no to what was happening. "She says that she talked to them before and after. Her friends said she was talking to them before and after." So is she frustrated? Roberts says, "I would imagine so. I mean that would be speculation on my part."
Right now, Roberts says there's not really an area that needs to be explored further, but if something new comes to light the case could be re-opened.
