Two Naval Academy football players charged with rape

July 3, 2000
Web posted at: 10:34 p.m. EDT (0234 GMT)

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Bail was set at $250,000 Monday for each of two Naval Academy football players arrested earlier in the day and charged with raping a female classmate as she lay unconscious at an off-campus party Thursday night in a suburb of Annapolis, Maryland.

The accused, who have just completed their sophomore years and are both 21, have been identified as 2nd Class midshipmen Cordrea Brittingham, a running back from Berlin, Maryland, and Arion Keith Williams, a cornerback from Detroit.

MESSAGE BOARD The U.S. military

Each is charged with one count of second-degree rape and one count of second-degree sexual offense, which generally involves nonconsensual sex without use of a weapon or physical threat.

Williams has been also charged with an additional count of third-degree sexual offense.

The alleged incident took place late Thursday or early Friday morning at a private party in Arnold, Maryland.

According to the Anne Arundel County police, the 20-year-old female midshipman was at the party when she passed out in a bedroom after a night of heavy drinking.

She told police she awoke to find herself being assaulted by the two suspects. She said she pushed them away, and they left immediately.

According to the police report, Brittingham, in his statement to police, "admitted to touching" the victim's private parts and "having vaginal intercourse."

The police report says another midshipman from the school opened the door of the bedroom and saw Williams on top of the victim; he then closed the door.

The accused are in detention; the review for bail hearing is set for Wednesday afternoon at Anne Arundel County Courthouse in Annapolis.

Police say the woman went to an area hospital, where sources say physical evidence indicated she had been sexually assaulted. Police were called to the hospital at 2 a.m. Friday.

One Pentagon official said the off-campus party involved "a lot of alcohol." Another source said the alleged victim's blood-alcohol level was so high when she was examined at the hospital, that it supports her claim that she was unconscious at the time.

Naval Academy spokesman Cmdr. Mike Brady said the midshipmen allegedly involved in the incident were at the academy for summer school and are not part of the freshman, or "plebe," summer training, which began Friday.

"Since this matter is still under investigation by state authorities, it would be inappropriate for the Naval Academy to discuss the allegations or details of this case," Brady said late Monday.

Naval Academy rules prohibit student sex on campus, but upperclassmen are permitted to have consensual sex off campus.

In 1998, star Navy quarterback Christopher McCoy admitted to having sex with a female freshman in an Annapolis hotel room. Sex with freshmen is prohibited.

That case stirred controversy because the female student, who was also accused of having sex with two other midshipmen on campus, was expelled but McCoy was allowed to graduate.

Military Affairs Correspondent Jamie McIntyre and Producer Dave Adhicary contributed to this report.

U.S. peacekeeper to face trial in rape, killing of Kosovo girl
June 7, 2000
Sources: Army substantiates general's claim of sexual harassment
May 11, 2000
Retired general may now face reduced rank in sex case
July 14, 1999
Star soldier warning women away from Army duty
February 6, 1997

The United States Naval Academy
US Naval Criminal Investigative Service
U.S. Department of Defense
Anne Arundel County State's Attorney Office

Note: Pages will open in a new browser window

External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.