STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -- Suspended Penn State running back
Austin Scott has been charged with raping a woman at his on-campus
apartment after meeting her at a bar.
Scott, 22, was arraigned Friday on charges of rape, sexual
assault and two counts of aggravated indecent assault, all
felonies, in connection with the Oct. 5 encounter.
Scott declined to comment as he left the courtroom Friday.
"The interaction he had with the woman involved was consensual,
and we anticipate we will be able to prove that in court," his
lawyer, Joseph Amendola, said. "Very optimistic. We're looking
forward to the opportunity of establishing his innocence."
Authorities said the encounter occurred in the early morning
hours of Oct. 5. Coach Joe Paterno suspended Scott later that day,
saying the tailback had violated an unspecified team rule.
Scott remains enrolled at Penn State.
"As with the case with any sexual assault, we consider it a
matter adjudicated by the court, and we can't get into details at
this point," university spokeswoman Lisa Powers said.
Scott also faces three misdemeanors: two counts of indecent
assault and one count of simple assault. He was released on $50,000
unsecured bail and ordered to stay away from the alleged victim.
Scott remains on the roster but is still suspended, team
spokesman Jeff Nelson said Friday.
"As coach Paterno stated earlier this week, he has not
participated with the team since the end of last week and we do not
have any further comment at this point," Nelson said.
A preliminary hearing was scheduled for Wednesday.
Scott, a fifth-year senior, ran for 302 yards and six touchdowns
this season before his suspension last week. He arrived at Penn
State in 2003 a highly touted recruit after setting state records
of 3,853 rushing yards and 53 touchdowns as a senior at Parkland
High School in Allentown.
He led Penn State in rushing his freshman year (436 yards), but
nagging injuries and other off-field issues kept him lagging on the
depth chart. He redshirted last season after being slowed by an
ankle injury.