Last Updated on October 17, 2007 1:26 pm by admin
BELLEFONTE, Pa. (AP) -Suspended Penn State tailback Austin Scott pleaded not guilty Wednesday and was ordered to stand trial on felony rape and sexual-assault charges.
At a preliminary hearing, Judge Daniel Hoffman also upheld several misdemeanor charges. Prosecutors withdrew two felony charges of aggravated indecent assault against the 22-year-old Scott because of a lack of evidence.
Scott, of Allentown, has called the encounter consensual.
The accuser, a fellow Penn State student, testified that she and Scott had met once before and had been text messaging each other before getting together at a bar. The rape allegedly occurred in the early morning hours on Oct. 5 at Scott’s on-campus apartment.
Scott was suspended from the team on Oct. 5, and charged last week. Defense lawyer John Karoly said Scott will remain in school while he fights the charges.