Faced with up to two years in prison, Vanderbilt’s Chris Boyd has instead reached a deal that will keep him from going behind bars and could result in his return to the Vanderbilt football program.
According to multiple media outlets, the wide receiver struck a plea agreement Friday that saw him plead guilty to a misdemeanor charge of criminal intent. Boyd had originally been charged with felony accessory after the fact.
Boyd has been placed on 11 months and 29 days of probation and, if he successfully completes that nearly year-long probationary period, he will have his record expunged.
Four of Boyd’s former Vandy teammates have been indicted on charges related to the on-campus rape of an unconscious female student. It’s alleged that one of the four videotaped the sexual assault; the original charge against Boyd was based on the player allegedly erasing the video of the attack.
Boyd was suspended by the football program shortly after his mid-August indictment. There’s no official word yet from the university as to what if any effect the plea deal will have on Boyd’s future with the team.
Last season, Boyd’s 50 receptions for 774 yards and three touchdowns were third on the team.
Boyd’s plea deal is the second piece of news related to the Vandy rape case to surface over the past 24 hours. Yesterday, it was reported that Jaborian McKenzie, one of the four charged in the sexual assault, had transferred to Alcorn State and played in the FCS school’s game this past weekend. Late last night, Alcorn announced that McKenzie had been removed from the football program.
UPDATED 11:24 a.m. ET: Vanderbilt vice chancellor for public affairs Beth Fortune released a statement addressing the development involving Boyd.
“Chris Boyd will remain suspended from the Vanderbilt University football team, pending further review by the university. We have no further comment on the matter at this time.