Nov 25, 2009 6:10 am US/Eastern
Attorney: Alleged Sacred Heart Sex Scandal A Prank
Wayne Keeney Insists While What 3 Freshmen Lacrosse Players Are Accused Of Is Vile, It's Certainly Not A Crime
By KATHRYN BROWN, CBS 2 HD News
FAIRFIELD, Conn. (CBS) ―
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Sacred Heart University lacrosse players Timothy Sanders, Nicholas Travers and Zachari Triner are accused of conspiracy to commit sexual assault.
CBS
A local college woman has levied shocking claims against three athletes. She said what started as consensual sex -- turned criminal.
Police have arrested three college lacrosse players at Sacred Heart University. Students at the competitive Catholic school were on edge after an alleged sexual assault.
All three players have been suspended from the school and the team pending a judicial review. They're also facing criminal charges. Students were uneasy about the alleged attack on Tuesday night.
Campus security sat on guard in the parking lot of Roncali dorm -- the same dorm where a female student says she was sexually assaulted Sunday by three freshmen.
"I was quite surprised and the first thing I thought about was the Duke one and that whole scandal and everything," student Elissa Whitmore said.
The alleged victim told police she was having consensual sex with 19-year-old Timothy Sanders when two of his teammates -- Nicholas Travers and Zachari Triner -- ran naked into the dorm room and touched her inappropriately.
Bridgeport Police said the 18-year-old freshman screamed and struggled before Travers and Triner ran from the room.
Investigators said she reported the assault a few hours later.
"I think she'd be telling the truth. Why wouldn't she? I know sometimes information gets skewed but I don't think she would lie about it," student Danielle Palmaccio said.
Sanders' attorney said it was an alcohol-fueled joke -- not a crime.
"This young woman was unfairly humiliated by some college boy prank. This is not a sexual assault," Wayne Keeney said.
Triner told police he didn't touch the alleged victim at all and Travers has denied any involvement.
In Smithtown on Long Island, neighbors defended Travers and compared the case to the Hofstra and Duke rape hoaxes.
"Untrue," said Angela Amoroso, Travers' neighbor. "That is not what happened at al. Those kids are respectable kids, all of them, that whole family."
Students said the accusations are surprisingly out of place at this quiet Catholic school.
"It's tough to know what to believe. We haven't really heard the story from the school or anything," student Dan Gavagni said.
Sacred Heart University officials have declined to comment on the incident, but said any student who violates the code of conduct will face swift disciplinary action.
All three men have been charged with conspiracy to commit sexual assault.
CBS 2 HD's Tony Aiello contributed to this report.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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