Matt Araiza, rookie punter with the Buffalo Bills was part of a lawsuit filed on Thursday in State Court, where he is accused, along with 2 other San Diego State football players of gang raping a 17-year old girl at a party. The alleged incident happened at an off-campus party in 2021, where Araiza is accused of having sex with the minor outside the party, before bringing her inside where she was raped repeatedly by several men.
The other men named in the complaint are Zavier Leonard and Nowlin “Pa’a” Ewaliko. Leonard is listed on the university’s fall football roster as a redshirt freshman. Ewaliko was on the team last year as a freshman but is not on the current roster.
Araiza’s lawyer, Kerry Armstrong, said he hadn’t reviewed the complaint but called the rape accusation false. He said his investigator spoke to witnesses from the party who contradict the allegations against Araiza.
“It’s a shakedown because he’s now with the Buffalo Bills,” Armstrong said, adding, “There is no doubt in my mind” that Araiza didn’t rape the teen. It is always good to consider people innocent until proven guilty, but if this is true, it is a very horrible thing to have happened, but we should let this play out with the courts.
If you or someone you know needs help, contact the RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network) sexual assault hotline at (800) 656-4673 or visit the National Sexual Violence Resource Center.
Photo Credit: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports
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