Baylor settles in sexual assault case
WACO, Texas (CHRISTIAN EXAMINER) — According to a report in the Dallas Morning News Baylor University — a private Baptist school — apparently reached a settlement with a woman who was sexually assaulted by former Baylor football player Sam Ukwuachu.
In the story, the victim's attorney, John Clune, is quoted as saying "the matter has been satisfactorily resolved."
No further details were released.
Ukwuachu, a defensive end who transferred from Boise State before the 2013 season, was convicted this past August of the 2013 assault. He was sentenced to 10 years felony probation and 180 days in jail.
He was released after spending two months behind bars on a $100,000 appeal bond. He sought a retrial, but was denied.
The victim was a former Baylor soccer player who testified that she dated Ukwuachu casually. She has since transferred to another school.
After the assault, Baylor officials investigated the woman's allegations, concluding that there was not enough evidence to move forward, according to the Waco Tribune.
The university continues to face scrutiny over the way it has handled the assault.
The Dallas Morning News story reported that "in the trial that ended with Ukwuachu's conviction it was revealed that the value of the female athlete's scholarship at Baylor was reduced after the assault. Ukwuachu, who was indicted in June 2014, remained on full scholarship."
The victim reportedly considered litigation under a Title IX provision that sets federal standards for schools in their investigations of sex crimes, according to NFL.com. But no suits were filed.
The Dallas Morning News reported another Baylor case in which Tevin Elliott, former Baylor defensive end, in January 2014 was sentenced to the maximum of 20 years in jail and fined $10,000 for sexually assaulting a former Baylor student in 2012. According to the report, two more Baylor students had testified of similar sexual assaults.
The university has since retained outside legal counsel to look into the university's internal report regarding the case. Ken Starr, Baylor president and chancellor is in the process of creating a position within the athletic department to oversee student-athlete behavior.