Former San Diego State and Buffalo Bills punter Matt Araiza will not be charged with any crimes in connection with the alleged gang rape of a 17-year-old girl at a San Diego State campus party, it was announced on Wednesday.
Per the San Diego Union-Tribune, the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office released a statement saying that none of the students, which include several SDSU football players Zavier Leonard and Nowlin “Pa’a” Ewaliko, will be charged over the allegations.
“Ultimately, prosecutors determined it is clear the evidence does not support the filing of criminal charges and there is no path to a potential criminal conviction,” the office said in a statement. “Prosecutors can only file charges when they ethically believe they can be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.”
The rape allegations rocked the San Diego State community and altered the career trajectory of Araiza, who was referred to as the “Punt God” for his booming kicks. He was released by the Bills within days of the report while the Aztecs cut Leonard (Ewaliko had left the team weeks earlier). The school made some awkward and embarrassing comments about the allegations and how they handled them while Araiza’s family proclaimed his innocence over the allegations.
The woman in question also had to push back against allegations that she was making the accusations for financial gain, saying “I reported it the day after it happened. I was 17 years old and I had no idea who Matt Araiza was.”
According to a civil lawsuit she filed in August, Araiza, then 21, had sex with her before bringing her into a bedroom where a group of men took turns raping her. She said that she was “in and out of consciousness and her ear, belly and nose piercings were ripped out as men assaulted her for about 90 minutes.” She reported the rape to San Diego police the next day and nine months later they turned their investigation over to prosecutors. The DA’s office noted on Wednesday that San Diego police did not recommend charges be filed when they submitted the case.
