The Buffalo Bills on Saturday released punter Matt Araiza, one of the NFL’s rising stars, days after he was accused in a civil lawsuit of raping a teenager at a college party.
The lawsuit filed in San Diego County court alleges Araiza, who was 21 at the time, gave a then-17-year-old girl an alcoholic beverage, asked for oral sex, and had sex with her in a side yard before taking her to a bedroom, where he and two other men are alleged to have gang-raped her.
Early this month, the San Diego Police Department sent the results of its investigation, without making any arrests, to the local district attorney, which said the matter was still under review. The Buffalo Bills, which fielded backup quarterback Matt Barkley in place of Araiza during Friday night's preseason game against the Carolina Panthers, said the suit was a surprise.
Araiza's lawyer, Kerry L. Armstrong, said by email Saturday night that Araiza is"very disappointed but is not upset with the Bills."The team said in a statement Friday that it was recently made aware of a civil complaint involving Araiza.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Bills punter Matt Araiza, 2 San Diego State teammates accused of gang rape in civil suitThe lawsuit, filed in San Diego County Superior Court on Thursday, accuses the trio of gang-raping a then-17-year-old girl at an off-campus party last fall at a home where Araiza had been living.
Read more »
NFL punter Matt Araiza released from Buffalo Bills amid sex assault allegation in San DiegoNFL punter Matt Araiza released from Buffalo Bills amid sex assault allegation in San Diego
Read more »
San Diego continues to lead on gun violence restraining orders, state attorney general saysState Attorney General Rob Bonta said 31 percent of gun violence's restraining orders in California last year were issued in San Diego County
Read more »
Column: Many questions remain in San Diego State rape caseThree players, including NFL punter Matt Araiza, named in civil lawsuit
Read more »
Former San Diego State punter released by Bills in wake of rape allegationsThe Buffalo Bills reversed cut the rookie on Saturday, two days after a lawsuit was filed alleging the player and two college teammates gang-raped a teenager last fall.
Read more »
NFL’s ‘Punt God,’ Buffalo Bills rookie accused of gang-rape in civil lawsuit: reportHe and two other San Diego State players have been accused of gang-raping a 17-year-old girl last year at a party off-campus at San Diego State University.
Read more »