Buffalo Bills punter Matt Araiza is being sued for allegedly gang-raping an underage woman at a party on Oct. 17, 2021.
Legal documents were filed in San Diego County Superior Court this week, alleging that Araiza assaulted the woman when she and her friends attended a Halloween party at his residence, according to TMZ. The woman is being referenced simply as “Jane Doe,” and was reportedly 17 years old at the time. She claims to have engaged in sex acts with Araiza in the outdoor area of his home, and alleges he then led her inside, threw her on a bed and gang-raped her with two former San Diego State teammates, who allegedly took part in the assault, according to TMZ.
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Matt Araiza and two others have been accused of gang raping a 17-year-old girl last year in a civil lawsuit filed Thursday.
Araiza’s lawyer called the accusation false.
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— ESPN (@espn) August 26, 2022
The alleged victim claims she was inebriated upon arrival at the party, and says Araiza also handed her a drink that she believes contained alcohol and “other intoxicating substances,” according to TMZ. The woman says she was sexually abused for about an hour and a half and claims to have “stumbled out of the room bloody and crying.”
The lawsuit doesn’t disclose the damages being sought by the victim, according to TMZ.
Kerry Armstrong, the attorney defending Araiza, has denied any wrongdoing on the part of his client, “It’s a shakedown because he’s now with the Buffalo Bills,” Armstrong said, according to The LA Times. When asked about his client’s innocence, Armstrong said “there is no doubt in my mind,” according to The LA Times. (RELATED: Chef Mario Batali Settles Sexual Assault Lawsuits With 2 Women)
Buffalo Bills punter Matt Araiza — who earned the nickname “Punt God” for his kicking abilities at San Diego State — is being sued … after he allegedly participated in the gang rape of a minor at a party in 2021. https://t.co/G0PARkueVX
— TMZ (@TMZ) August 25, 2022
The Buffalo Bills released a statement addressing the allegations Thursday. “We were recently made aware of a civil complaint involving Matt from October 2021. Due to the serious nature of the complaint, we conducted a thorough examination of this matter. As this is an ongoing civil case, we will have no other comment at this point,” the team said.
The San Diego Police Department began investigating this matter in 2021 but has not laid any charges or made any arrests in relation to this case.