Star College Athlete Shocked by His Arrest for Alleged Sexual Misconduct

By The Wildcard June 17, 2019 at 8:18am

A star wrestler for the University of Minnesota is shocked by his arrest for alleged sexual misconduct, as he has nothing to hide and has been cooperating with investigators, his lawyer said Monday.

Gable Steveson, 19, and teammate Dylan Martinez, 21, were arrested Saturday night on suspicion of criminal sexual conduct and remained jailed Monday.

Steveson, a heavyweight who placed third at this year’s NCAA championships, and Martinez, who is on the team but didn’t compete last season, were arrested after someone reported Saturday night that they had been raped and went to a hospital for treatment.

The attack happened shortly after 1 a.m. Saturday, according to a police report released Monday that lacked many details, including the age and sex of the accuser or specifics about what transpired.

Steveson’s attorney, Christa Groshek, said Steveson is shocked by his arrest and has been cooperating with police “because he felt that he didn’t have anything to hide.”

It wasn’t immediately clear whether Martinez has an attorney. Messages left with several possible relatives were not returned.

The university’s athletics department said in a statement it was “aware of a situation involving two of our student athletes” and that the two were suspended from all team activity pending further information.

The statement didn’t identify the athletes or their sport.

Hennepin County prosecutors have until noon Tuesday to charge the two, seek an extension or release them.

Steveson was a four-time state champion at Apple Valley High School.

He had a 35-2 record this season — his first competing for the Gophers — and he placed third at this year’s NCAA championships.

Martinez didn’t wrestle last season and was listed as a redshirt sophomore. He wrestled for Fresno City College in California before enrolling at Minnesota.

This isn’t the first time that University of Minnesota athletes have been accused of sexual misconduct.

In September 2016, a female student alleged she was gang-raped in an incident that implicated 10 football players. Criminal charges were not filed, but five students were ultimately expelled or suspended, while five others were cleared. Then-football coach Tracy Claeys was fired after he expressed pride in his players for saying they would boycott their bowl game to protest the lack of due process in the case.

Minnesota basketball standout Reggie Lynch was accused of sexually assaulting two women on separate occasions in 2016. Lynch was never criminally charged and denied the allegations, but he dropped an appeal and accepted his expulsion last year.

Also in 2016, wrestling coach J Robinson was fired after an investigation into the way he handled an alleged drug ring involving the anti-anxiety medication Xanax. Four wrestlers were suspended in connection with that incident.

The Western Journal has reviewed this Associated Press story and may have altered it prior to publication to ensure that it meets our editorial standards.

Submit a Correction →