3 Former MSU Football Players Reach Plea Deals in Sexual Assault Case
All men pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of felony seduction and could avoid up-front jail time in connection with the sexual assault of another student.
All three men were released from the football team when their arrest warrants were issued and were later expelled from the school.
Three former Michigan State University football players may avoid jail time after pleading guilty to lesser charges in a sexual assault case.
Josh King, Donnie Corley and Demetric Vance all pleaded guilty in Ingham County Circuit Court on Wednesday to a felony charge of seduction, which carries a punishment of up to five years in prison, in relation to an alleged sexual assault in an on-campus apartment in January 2017.
King also pleaded guilty to a felony charge of surveilling an unclothed person, which carries a punishment of up to two years in prison, according to Michigan Live.
The victim, who says she knew King before the assault, told police he pulled her into a bathroom and forced her to perform sexual acts. King then brought Corley and Vance into the bathroom separately and forced the woman to perform more sexual acts on them, according to a detective.
The men originally denied having sexual contact with the woman but later changed their stories, admitting to engaging in oral sex with the victim. Police also discovered a video on King’s phone of him having sex with the woman. King admitted to recording the video and distributing it on Snapchat.
“We’re certainly glad that they stood up in open court and finally said they were guilty of something,” said Karen Truszkowski, a lawyer representing the victim. “They’ve been saying for the last year and three months that what happened was consensual and it was not and that gives her some vindication.”
Truszkowski also says her client is still a student at Michigan State and although she was not in the courtroom on Wednesday, she plans on being involved in the men’s sentencing hearing.
“It’s been a long, difficult year, so she will definitely make that known,” Truszkowski said. “She’s made great strides, but she does want to put this behind her.”
Assistant prosecuting attorney Steve Kwasnik says the victim was “extensively counseled” and agreed to the plea deals.
King previously faced the possibility of life in prison for charges of first- and third-degree criminal conduct. Corley and Vance each previously faced up to 15 years in prison on a charge of third-degree criminal sexual conduct.
The men’s plea deals allow them to avoid up-front jail time. Judge Rosemarie Aquilina also granted them status under the Holmes Youthful Trainee Act, which will allow their records to become non-public if they fulfill the terms of the agreement and do not commit any future offenses, according to the Lansing State Journal.
King, Corley and Vance were all members of MSU’s 2016 signing class and were suspended from the football team in February 2017. All three men were released from the football team when their arrest warrants were issued and were also later expelled from the school following a Title IX investigation.
Corley and Vance are now enrolled at Coahoma Community College in Clarksdale, Miss., and play on the school’s football team.
The men are scheduled to be sentenced on June 6. Should Aquilina include jail time in their sentences, they will be able to withdraw their guilty pleas.
If you appreciated this article and want to receive more valuable industry content like this, click here to sign up for our FREE digital newsletters!
About the Author
Amy Rock, Executive Editor
Amy is Campus Safety’s Executive Editor. Prior to joining the editorial team in 2017, she worked in both events and digital marketing.
Amy has many close relatives and friends who are teachers, motivating her to learn and share as much as she can about campus security. She has a minor in education and has worked with children in several capacities, further deepening her passion for keeping students safe.
Related Content
Leading in Turbulent Times: Effective Campus Public Safety Leadership for the 21st Century
This new webcast will discuss how campus public safety leaders can effectively incorporate Clery Act, Title IX, customer service, “helicopter” parents, emergency notification, town-gown relationships, brand management, Greek Life, student recruitment, faculty, and more into their roles and develop the necessary skills to successfully lead their departments. Register today to attend this free webcast!
