BYU’s Jake Retzlaff denies woman’s allegations of rape

A lawyer representing the quarter of by byu Jake Retzlaff denied allegations in a trial that his client raped, strangled and bit a woman in 2023.

In a response to the trial of the third court of UTAH judicial district filed on Friday, the lawyer of Retzlaff wrote: “Mr. Retzlaff specifically and categorically denies all the allegations he has bitten, raped or strangled [the woman]Who are ridiculous and bizarre allegations, which are all false and false. “”

The answer indicates that Retzlaff and the woman, identified in the trial brought in May as Jane Doe AG, had consensual sexual relations at Retzlaff’s apartment in November 2023 and that they had light text messages in February 2024. He also qualified the trial as an attempted extortion based on the idea that Retzlaff big year after their postponement.

The original complaint and the answer agree that Retzlaff and the woman connected via social media, which led him to visit Retzlaff’s apartment to play video games on November 22 or to November 22.

Later in the evening, the woman’s friend left, after which Retzlaff and the woman started watching a film, said the trial.

“At one point, they started kissing, but Jane Doe Ag didn’t want to do anything more,” said the trial. “Retzlaff began to climb the situation … And Jane Doe Ag tried to defuse the situation and tried to slow down things, try to move away and say” wait “. She didn’t want to do anything sexual with him.”

The trial says that the woman said to Retzlaff “no” and “wait, stop”, but that he continued to force herself. After trying to get up from the bed, the trial alleys that Retzlaff put his hands around his neck and raped.

“It hurt so much and caused so much pain that Jane Doe AG has passed out,” said the trial. “Jane Doe Ag remembers tears rolling on her face while she was fighting to breathe.”

A few days later, the woman visited the hospital, where a rape kit was played and photos of her injuries were taken. The trial indicates that it was linked to the provo police but did not initially provide the name of Retzlaff.

After filing the prosecution, Byu published the following declaration:

“The university takes very seriously all allegation, following all the processes and directives mandated by the title IX. Due to federal and university laws and practices for students, the university will not be able to provide additional comments.”

Distinct from allegations of rape, the admission of prenuptial consensual sexual relations constitutes a violation of the code of honor of Byu. According to the school’s website, the punishment of violations of the code of honor can range from a warning to expulsion. A specific punishment for sex before marriage is not stipulated, but there have been cases of high -level athletes suspended to have sex before marriage in the past.

In 2011, the basketball player Brandon Davies was dismissed from the team – which was at the time of 27-2 and ranked n ° 3 in the country – and suspended from the school. He was reinstated this fall.

In 1999, the ball carrier Reno Mahe was suspended from school and forced to leave the football team. He was transferred to a junior college and then rearned on byu.