Friday, May 14, 1999
UC back pleads not guilty
McCleskey released on $10,000 bond
BY MIKE DeCOURCY
The Cincinnati Enquirer
University of Cincinnati football player DeMarco McCleskey entered a not guilty plea Thursday to charges he raped a fellow UC student in her dormitory room.
McCleskey, 18, was released on a $10,000 bond after being detained in the Hamilton County Justice Center following his arrest Wednesday. UC's top running back, from Claremore, Okla., McCleskey has been indefinitely suspended from the team pending the outcome of his case.
“He is confident he'll be found not guilty,” said John Burlew, McCleskey's attorney.
A 19-year-old UC student charged in a report filed with university police that McCleskey entered her room in Calhoun Hall through an unlocked door between 1:30 a.m. and 2:30 a.m. Sunday and forceably performed sex acts on her, including intercourse, despite her struggle and demands for him to stop.
The student said she knew McCleskey and had turned down his request for a date the previous week.
Burlew, who called the circumstances surrounding the allegations “strange,” said McCleskey cooperated with police. “I think it's best to get the people under oath and find out what happened,” he said.
The case has been referred to the Hamilton County grand jury, which will hear the facts of the case and decide whether to return an indictment.
If McCleskey is not indicted or is found not guilty at trial, he would be able to return to the football team. Under the athletic department's zero-tolerance policy, an athlete charged with a crime of violence is suspended. A conviction or admission of guilt leads to dismissal.
McCleskey led the Bearcats with 861 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns as a freshman and was named to Conference USA's all-freshman team.
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