Ohio State head coach Ryan Day has dismissed two players on his team — Amir Riep and Jahsen Wint — after rape and kidnapping charges were filed against the two.
Dan Murphy of ESPN writes that Wint and Riep were taken into custody by police Tuesday after receiving a warrant for their arrest. The charges stem from an incident at an apartment in Columbus on February 4 when Riep grabbed the woman’s neck, “forcing her onto her hands and knees and vaginally penetrating her” according to a probable cause affidavit submitted to the Franklin County Municipal Court. Furthermore, the report states Wint then entered the room forcing the woman to perform oral sex on him while Riep held her in place.
“I am not making any statement on the criminal charges, but it is clear they did not live up to our standards and my expectations,” Ohio State coach Ryan Day said Wednesday while announcing that he had dismissed the two players from the team. “The athletics department will make sure they both continue to have access to the health and well-being resources available to students and student-athletes. Due to the ongoing criminal investigation, I will not be commenting further.”
Police said Riep and the woman started having consensual sex on the night of Feb. 4, but the woman “stopped and moved away after a brief time stating she did not want to continue.” Wint entered the room after that, and the two men raped her for several minutes, according to police. After both men stopped, Riep told the woman she needed to record a video saying that their sexual encounter was consensual “while laughing at her.”
Wint’s attorney, Sam Shamansky, said the charges against his client are “outrageously false.”
“He’s wrongly accused, he shouldn’t be in jail, and we’re gonna prove it,” Shamansky said. “When all the circumstances attended to this case are examined objectively, fairly, and in the light of day, not in a one-sided, gee, here’s the arrest warrant proceeding, people are going to understand that she’s without any credibility whatsoever.”
Riep’s attorney, Karl Schneider, released the following statement:
“These are some of the most serious and troubling allegations one can face,” Schneider said. “However, Amir maintains his innocence and is prepared to face these difficult times over the coming weeks and months.”
