Evanston football player charged with sexual battery

CORAL GABLES, Fla. — Miami defensive tackle Jeffrey Brown was freed on bond early Thursday, one day after he was charged with forcing sex on an allegedly intoxicated female in her dorm room.

Police say the alleged incident took place in the early morning hours of April 30. Brown surrendered to police Wednesday afternoon and was charged with one count of sexual battery about an hour later.

He has been suspended indefinitely from the Hurricanes football program.

In a statement, the university said it "has become aware of the serious charges made against a student athlete," without referring to Brown by name.

The university declined further comment. Brown's name was not listed Wednesday on Miami's football roster or the team's depth chart.

The Chicago law firm Durkin and Roberts released a statement calling information about the case "erroneous and inflammatory," adding that Brown "did not engage in any criminal conduct whatsoever on the evening in question, nor did he violate any rules of the University of Miami or its football program."

The statement released by Brown's attorneys also says the player's family "looks forward to Jeffrey having his day in court so that he can clear his good name." Brown will be represented by two Chicago attorneys, Thomas Durkin and Augustus Moss, as well as Florida-based attorney Barry Witlin.

Brown, a redshirt freshman, is from Evanston, Ill. He is expected to be arraigned in about three weeks.

According to the arrest affadavit filed by the Coral Gables Police Department, the 6-foot-3, 297-pound Brown was an acquaintance of the alleged victim. Police say Brown took her back to her room after she became ill and passed out in his bathroom, then helped her into her bed, doing so "under pretense that he was concerned for her well being," according to the affadavit.

Police said the alleged victim fell asleep, only to be awakened by Brown allegedly removing her "comforter and underwear." Police said Brown then had sex with the woman, despite her pleas for him to stop.

Police said Brown initially denied having sex with the alleged victim, then acknowledged doing so under further questioning.

"The victim said she was helpless to resist the defendant's actions because of his stature and her state of intoxication," the affadavit said.