Jones' rape, sodomy charges rock Louisville
In the end, the allegations against former University of Louisville basketball star Chris Jones were worse than anyone could have imagined.
Just hours after he led the team to a comeback victory over Miami — and two days after being reinstated to the team — he allegedly raped and sodomized one woman and, with two other men, did the same to another.
He pleaded not guilty Thursday and one of his lawyers, Scott C. Cox, predicted he will be found not guilty.
"We believe this gentleman is innocent and has been falsely accused," Cox told reporters, after Jefferson District Judge Sheila Collins released Jones on home incarceration, which he will begin serving in a hotel room.
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But his arrest on such serious allegations — both punishable by up to 20 years in prison — rocked the community, including Cardinals fans who questioned on sports talk radio shows whether Jones should have been punished more harshly for his earlier infraction — threatening a girlfriend in a text message — for which he served a one-game suspension.
Grilling U of L officials at a news conference, reporters also asked if Jones should have been dismissed and expelled for that offense — and whether that might have prevented the more serious charges.
Lt. Col. Kenny Brown of the U of L police scoffed at the suggestion, saying the incidents were "totally unrelated."
Dean of Students Michael Mardis said the university can remove a student from campus if they are deemed a threat to others, but he said that decision hinges on many factors, including the victim's wishes.
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The "off and on" girlfriend who reported that Jones texted her Feb. 17 threatening to smack the "f" out of her — after she ransacked his room — told campus police she did not want him charged with a crime.
Mardis defended the university — which he described as "dynamic and thriving" — and its programs to combat sexual assault. He called the assault allegations "an incredibly unfortunate situation."
Coach Rick Pitino said later in the day, "We're all shocked, extremely disheartened and very saddened for everybody involved. Our prayers go out to every person involved in this."
Cardinals fans reacted with empathy toward the women and Jones.
Kathy Dobbins, a lifelong fan who has attended every home game this season, said: "The consequences of this on Chris' life and future…it's terribly sad. It's very distressing and upsetting. If he is guilty, I hope he gets the help he needs."
U of L law student Michael Farley said he was shocked by the allegations. "I can't imagine the pain the victims are going through," he said. "I feel bad for the team. It's also a shame that players like (Mon)Trezl (Harrell) and (Terry) Rozier have to have their phenomenal seasons clouded by this controversy."
The events that led to the stunning charges occurred between 2 and 4 a.m. Sunday in a room at Cardinal Towne, a privately owned but campus-affiliated complex that is home to about 850 students. The apartments, owned by American Campus Communities of Austin, Texas, are the same place where cheerleader Danielle Cogswell died of a drug overdose last July.
The company didn't immediately respond to requests about whether it will step up security in the complex.
Brown said the events unfolded at what he called a "get-together" and that one of the women was a U of L student and the other took classes online from Western Kentucky University. They are 19 and 20 years old.
He wouldn't say how they knew Jones, 23, although a police report describes them as his acquaintances.
According to a criminal complaint, Jones alone engaged in unwanted intercourse with the first woman and sodomized her. She was able to identify him because she recognized him as a basketball player and because he told her his name, the complaint says. She was treated later at University of Louisville Hospital, where a rape exam was performed.
Other complaints say that Jones and another man, Jalen D. Tilford, forced a second woman to engage in sexual intercourse and oral sex, the latter leading to a sodomy charge. A third man, Tyvon Julah Walker, also was charged with raping her. The complaints say they were identified by the women through social media.
Brown wouldn't disclose how the defendants know each other. Court records show that Jones and Tilford have no prior criminal records while Walker was charged last year with shoplifting and placed in diversion.
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Tilford and Walker were arrested and pleaded not guilty at their arraignments Thursday morning. Tilford is being held on a $100,000 bond and Walker on $75,000.
Brown said the incidents were reported to U of L police a few hours after they allegedly occurred, although he wouldn't say who made the reports because the investigation is "open and active."
The women were treated about 10:30 a.m. Sunday and Jones was dismissed from the basketball team shortly after noon that day, based on reports that he had missed a curfew, said sports information director Kenny Klein.
He said the athletic department learned about the sexual assault allegations only that afternoon.
The university declined to say Sunday why Jones had been kicked off the team, but Pitino said he was "finished."
Cox, one of three lawyers for Jones, said in court that the former player has cooperated from "the first minute" of the investigation, and Brown confirmed he had given a statement.
Arguing against setting a cash bond for their client, Cox and Ryan McCall noted that he has no prior record, surrendered voluntarily and is assisting police.
Collins released him on home incarceration, in lieu of a $25,000 bond, but ordered him to have no contact with either woman. She said if he does, "I will personally send police after you."
She ordered Jones to appear in court on March 9.
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Cox said Jones, who is from Memphis, Tenn., has withdrawn from U of L to focus on his defense and is living in a hotel until he finds an apartment.
Police had cited him as a flight risk, but Cox said he has no intention of leaving Louisville.
Another lawyer for Jones, Rob Eggert, asked Collins to order U of L to preserve video recordings from security cameras inside Cardinal Towne, saying that they will help prove Jones' innocence.
Brown said there are many cameras in the building and that police are in the process of reviewing recordings.
Reporter Andrew Wolfson can be reached at (502) 582-7189. Reporters Jeffrey Greer, Matt Glowicki and Eric Burse contributed to this report.
Timeline after photo gallery
CHRIS JONES TIMELINE
Feb. 17 — Jones sends threatening text to a girlfriend.
Feb. 17 — Coach Rick Pitino learns about the text during a team dinner, removes Jones from the dinner table and immediately suspends him from the team. Reached that night by The Courier-Journal, Pitino says he was "not sure" if Jones would only be suspended for one game. "Maybe longer," he says.
Feb. 18 — Playing without Jones, U of L loses at Syracuse 69-59. Pitino says in his postgame comments that Jones may never play for U of L again.
Feb. 19 — Jones surrenders his cell phone and is allowed to return to the team, subject to strict internal disciplinary measures, including a curfew.
Feb. 21 — Jones leads the Cardinals to a comeback 55-53 win over Miami. After the game, he takes blame for his suspension.
Feb. 22 — Between 2 and 4 a.m. at Cardinal Towne apartments, Jones allegedly rapes and sodomizes one woman, and, with two accomplices, rapes and sodomizes a second.
Feb. 22 — Noon. U of L athletics hears Jones violated his curfew and committed other unspecified violations. He is dismissed from the team. School later hears he is being investigated in sexual assaults. Reached that night, Pitino says only that Jones is "finished" at U of L and refuses further comment.
Feb. 25 — Warrant signed for Jones' arrest on rape and sodomy charges.
Feb. 26 — Jones surrenders and pleads not guilty in Jefferson District Court; released on home incarceration.