Darren Yamashita/USA TODAY Sports activities
A civil lawsuit filed in San Diego County Superior Court docket alleges that Matt Araiza, the Buffalo Payments rookie generally known as “Punt God,” was concerned within the gang-rape of a drunk 17-year-old high-school senior whereas finding out at San Diego State College final 12 months.
The swimsuit alleges the incident occurred at a Halloween get together between Oct. 16 and 17 when the teenager was plied with a drink that “not solely contained alcohol, however different intoxicating substances” and assaulted by a number of males.
Araiza is particularly accused of creating the teenager carry out oral intercourse on him earlier than he “pulled her up from the bottom, turned her round dealing with away from the get together, and penetrated her from behind.”
The swimsuit goes on to say that he then took her to a bed room, the place his teammates “took turns raping her for an hour and a half.” The teenager mentioned she misplaced consciousness in the course of the assault.
Based on the swimsuit, police helped the teenager name the opposite gamers and Araiza to verify the incident. In the course of the taped telephone name, Araiza advised the younger girl that he had examined optimistic for chlamydia, and requested her to get examined.
He then mentioned, “So you understand what to get examined for Okay, that makes me really feel a bit higher.”
In a press release to USA Right this moment, the Payments mentioned the group was “not too long ago made conscious of a civil criticism involving Matt from October 2021” and “because of the severe nature of the criticism, we performed a radical examination of this matter. As that is an ongoing civil case authorized, we could have no different remark at this level.”
Kerry Armstrong, a lawyer for Araiza, advised the Los Angeles Occasions the allegations are false, and that a employed investigator mentioned witnesses have contradicted the accusations.
“It’s a shakedown as a result of he’s now with the Buffalo Payments,” Armstrong mentioned. “There isn't any doubt in my thoughts that Matt Araiza ever raped that woman.”