Following up on a story that first surfaced nearly two months ago, four former members of the Vanderbilt football program have been officially charged for their alleged roles in a heinous on-campus sexual assault.
A Davidson County (Tenn.) grand jury Friday handed down indictments on Brandon Banks, 19; Cory Batey, 19; Jaborian ‘Tip’ McKenzie, 18; and Brandon Vandenburg, 20. The four were charged with five counts of aggravated rape and two counts of aggravated sexual battery EACH, The Tennessean reported. The City Paper of Nashville, however, reported that the four were charged with a total of five counts of aggravated rape and four counts of sexual battery; we’re attempting to gain some clarity on the specific of the charges.
Additionally, Vandenburg was charged with one count of tampering with evidence and one count of unlawful photography.
As of this posting, Batey is the only one of the four who has turned himself in to authorities. As for what led to the indictments handed down today, here are the details from The Tennessean:Police said the four raped an unconscious woman in Vandenburg’s dorm room June 23. Police first got word after university officials checked a security camera in an unrelated incident and saw suspicious behavior by the four.
Metro Police Chief Steve Anderson called the evidence, “compelling” and “unsettling”.
According to that paper, the university is expected to release a statement at some point Friday.
On June 28, Vanderbilt announced that four unnamed players had been indefinitely suspended amid reports that the players were connected to an alleged sex crimes case. The next day, Vandy officials further clarified the players’ statuses, releasing a statement announcing the dismissals of the four. That release further added that none of the four will be permitted to return to campus without permission from the office of student conduct and academic integrity.
In mid-July, the school released the names of the individuals who today were indicted.
None of the four ever played a down for the Commodores, although Banks and Vandenburg were expected to see extensive playing time this season.