BYU Quarterback Jake Retzlaff Accused of Sexually Assaulting Girl: Lawsuit

Brigham Younger College quarterback Jake Retzlaff has been accused of sexually assaulting a Utah lady in 2023, in accordance with a brand new civil lawsuit filed Wednesday, Could 21 that claims he “raped, strangled, and bit” her.

The submitting, obtained by PEOPLE, additionally claims native Provo police discouraged the lady from submitting costs towards Retzlaff, 22, who rose to national prominence final yr main the Mormon college to a top-10 rating as its first Jewish quarterback.

Retzlaff denied the allegations within the lawsuit by way of a ready assertion from his lawyer, in accordance with native KSL, The Salt Lake Tribune and ESPN, saying the junior quarterback was “factually harmless.” “We look ahead to proving that innocence,” lawyer Mark Baute instructed the retailers. “Jake’s focus this yr shall be on soccer.”

Baute didn’t instantly reply to PEOPLE’s request for touch upon Thursday morning. In the meantime, a spokesperson for BYU soccer tells PEOPLE the college is “conscious” of the allegations towards its staff’s quarterback.

“The college takes any allegation very significantly, following all processes and tips mandated by Title IX,” Kenny Cox, a spokesperson for the BYU soccer staff, instructed PEOPLE in a press release. “As a consequence of federal and college privateness legal guidelines and practices for college students, the college will be unable to supply further remark.”

A spokesperson for the Provo Police Division additionally denied the allegations that one in every of its officers discouraged the lady from reporting the alleged assault and pursuing legal costs, in accordance with KSL, ESPN and The Salt Lake Tribune.

The lady, who’s recognized within the lawsuit as “Jane Doe A.G.,” is looking for punitive damages from Retzlaff.

In her criticism, she claims that the alleged assault occurred in 2023.

Retzlaff and the lady met on social media in October of that yr and messaged for a number of weeks earlier than the school soccer star invited her over to his home, the submitting claims. At his home, Retzlaff and the lady frolicked with different members of the BYU soccer staff, in accordance with the criticism. 

“In some unspecified time in the future they started to kiss, however Jane Doe A.G. didn’t wish to do something extra,” the submitting says, alleging that “Retzlaff started escalating the state of affairs.” The criticism alleges the lady then “tried to de-escalate the state of affairs and tried to sluggish issues down, making an attempt to tug away, and saying ‘wait.’”

Retzlaff’s touching then allegedly “turned extra into pinching her arduous” which started “inflicting her ache.” The criticism claims the lady “tried to maneuver away, and stated ‘no,’ and ‘wait, cease,’ ” earlier than Retzlaff allegedly started to bodily drive her to carry out sexual acts on him.

The submitting claims Retzlaff was “offended” and “yelling” on the lady as she tried to make use of her telephone to contact somebody for assist. “He was a lot stronger, heavier, and taller than Jane Doe A.G. that she felt trapped and scared and was having bother respiratory,” the criticism alleges.

Retzlaff then started to rape the lady with “his palms round her neck,” the criticism alleges. “It damage so unhealthy and brought on a lot ache that Jane Doe A.G. handed out,” the criticism claims.

After Retzlaff fell asleep, the lady “grabbed her garments and her telephone and ran,” in accordance with the criticism. “Just a few days later, Jane Doe A.G. introduced to the hospital the place a rape package was carried out and photos taken of the lower on her lip and the bruises round her neck and on her inside thighs.”

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The criticism says the lady was linked with Provo police, “however intially didn’t share his title as a result of the officer she spoke to stated if she did then detectives would present up at Retzlaff’s home to query him and would share her title with him. … She was scared and in shock and never able to confront him,” the criticism alleges.

Later, in accordance with the criticism, police once more reached out to the lady to ask for Retzlaff’s id, allegedly telling her that they obtained one other criticism a few soccer participant and investigators wished to test if it was the identical individual. The lady then shared Retzlaff’s title, “and the Provo police then inspired her to not do something as a result of, as they claimed, ‘sexual assault victims by no means get justice.’ “

The criticism says the lady “continues to expertise excessive post-traumatic stress dysfunction and different trauma signs as she works to course of what occurred and transfer on” greater than a yr and a half after the alleged rape occurred. 

Attorneys for “Jane Doe A.G.” didn’t instantly reply to PEOPLE’s request for touch upon Thursday morning.

In case you or somebody you recognize has been sexually assaulted, please contact the Nationwide Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go to rainn.org.