Records: Jones called police chief, Bowles on the day Johnson, Williams accused of rape
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Tennessee head football coach Butch Jones watches his team during practice at Haslam Field. (Photo by Wade Payne, Special to the News Sentinel)
Image credit: Wade Payne
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By MJ Slaby of the Knoxville News Sentinel
Updated: 5:13 p.m.
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University of Tennessee football Coach Butch Jones spoke to Knoxville Police Chief David Rausch four times the day two UT football players were accused of rape in November 2014, according to phone records released Wednesday.
The records also confirm two calls that day between former UT player Drae Bowles and Jones, as a federal lawsuit against the university alleges.
According to a Knoxville Police Department report, the incident that led to rape charges against A.J. Johnson and Michael Williams happened between 1:45 and 2:30 a.m. on Nov. 16, 2014, at Johnson's apartment in the Woodlands complex in South Knoxville. Police said they learned of the rape accusation about 3 a.m. that day in an E-911 call.
Throughout the day, records show repeated calls between Jones and Sam Brown, the KPD liaison to the UT football team, as well as calls between the coach and Johnson, Rausch, UT Athletic Director Dave Hart, fellow player Curt Maggitt and various members of the football coaching staff. The records show no calls between the coach and Williams, the second player accused of rape.
As part of a federal lawsuit against the university, Bowles has signed statements saying he was assaulted by teammates and berated by Jones for giving the rape accuser a ride.
According to the lawsuit, Bowles said he was confronted by teammate Maggitt on Nov. 16, and Maggitt punched Bowles in the face.
Afterward, Bowles called Jones to tell him what happened, and Jones said he was disappointed and that Bowles "betrayed the team," according to the lawsuit. Jones called Bowles several hours later to apologize, according to the lawsuit.
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The records show two calls that day between Jones and Bowles, as well as calls by Jones between those conversations to Bowles' father, Dexter Bowles, and Maggitt.
The accuser and one of her friends are two of the eight plaintiffs in the federal lawsuit.
Jones defended making the calls in a statement Wednesday, saying anytime a disciplinary issue arises, "we have as many conversations as needed with players, parents, law enforcement, whomever until we can be sure that we are making the best decision possible. These are decisions that can be life-changing for these individuals. After taking into account all the information we could gather in this case, we made the decision to suspend two student athletes from the team immediately."
Jones has previously denied accusations that he belittled Bowles and said he did all he could to "assist the former player in question." Similarly, attorney Jeff Hagood, who represents Maggitt, said his client did not punch Bowles.
Jones said Wednesday he cares about Bowles "as a person and as a player and have frequent communications with players or their parents. I am very comfortable with everything Drae, Mr. Bowles and I discussed, and I wish him nothing but the very best. My intent was to support Drae and make sure he was OK. There's nothing more important to me than the ultimate success in the life of our students."
Williams and Johnson were suspended from the football team Nov. 17, 2014. They face charges of aggravated rape and of aiding and abetting aggravated rape. Their criminal trials are currently on hold.
In the days afterward, Jones would not say when or how he learned of the police investigation. KPD Spokesman Darrell DeBusk would not say whether Rausch contacted UT officials about the rape case, as he has in previous criminal cases involving UT athletes.
More details as they develop online and in Thursday's News Sentinel.
i
Tennessee head football coach Butch Jones watches his team during practice at Haslam Field. (Photo by Wade Payne, Special to the News Sentinel)
Image credit: Wade Payne
0
By MJ Slaby of the Knoxville News Sentinel
Updated: 5:13 p.m.
i
i
i
University of Tennessee football Coach Butch Jones spoke to Knoxville Police Chief David Rausch four times the day two UT football players were accused of rape in November 2014, according to phone records released Wednesday.
The records also confirm two calls that day between former UT player Drae Bowles and Jones, as a federal lawsuit against the university alleges.
According to a Knoxville Police Department report, the incident that led to rape charges against A.J. Johnson and Michael Williams happened between 1:45 and 2:30 a.m. on Nov. 16, 2014, at Johnson's apartment in the Woodlands complex in South Knoxville. Police said they learned of the rape accusation about 3 a.m. that day in an E-911 call.
Throughout the day, records show repeated calls between Jones and Sam Brown, the KPD liaison to the UT football team, as well as calls between the coach and Johnson, Rausch, UT Athletic Director Dave Hart, fellow player Curt Maggitt and various members of the football coaching staff. The records show no calls between the coach and Williams, the second player accused of rape.
As part of a federal lawsuit against the university, Bowles has signed statements saying he was assaulted by teammates and berated by Jones for giving the rape accuser a ride.
According to the lawsuit, Bowles said he was confronted by teammate Maggitt on Nov. 16, and Maggitt punched Bowles in the face.
Afterward, Bowles called Jones to tell him what happened, and Jones said he was disappointed and that Bowles "betrayed the team," according to the lawsuit. Jones called Bowles several hours later to apologize, according to the lawsuit.
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The records show two calls that day between Jones and Bowles, as well as calls by Jones between those conversations to Bowles' father, Dexter Bowles, and Maggitt.
The accuser and one of her friends are two of the eight plaintiffs in the federal lawsuit.
Jones defended making the calls in a statement Wednesday, saying anytime a disciplinary issue arises, "we have as many conversations as needed with players, parents, law enforcement, whomever until we can be sure that we are making the best decision possible. These are decisions that can be life-changing for these individuals. After taking into account all the information we could gather in this case, we made the decision to suspend two student athletes from the team immediately."
Jones has previously denied accusations that he belittled Bowles and said he did all he could to "assist the former player in question." Similarly, attorney Jeff Hagood, who represents Maggitt, said his client did not punch Bowles.
Jones said Wednesday he cares about Bowles "as a person and as a player and have frequent communications with players or their parents. I am very comfortable with everything Drae, Mr. Bowles and I discussed, and I wish him nothing but the very best. My intent was to support Drae and make sure he was OK. There's nothing more important to me than the ultimate success in the life of our students."
Williams and Johnson were suspended from the football team Nov. 17, 2014. They face charges of aggravated rape and of aiding and abetting aggravated rape. Their criminal trials are currently on hold.
In the days afterward, Jones would not say when or how he learned of the police investigation. KPD Spokesman Darrell DeBusk would not say whether Rausch contacted UT officials about the rape case, as he has in previous criminal cases involving UT athletes.
More details as they develop online and in Thursday's News Sentinel.
