Future is uncertain for Louisville’s Chris Jones
Just days after being dismissed from the University of Louisville basketball team, guard Chris Jones has been arrested and charged in connection with the rape and sodomy of two women. The 23-year-old turned himself in Thursday (February 26) and plead not guilty to the charges levied against him in front of Jefferson District Court before Judge Sheila Collins.
The arrest comes over a week after Jones was originally suspended by head coach Rick Pitino for Louisville’s Feb. 17 matchup against Syracuse after he sent threatening text messages to his ex-girlfriend. Both Jones and his ex resolved their differences with the university’s dean of discipline, were ordered to have no further contact and stay 500 ft of each other. Though he was then reinstated, he was given a strict curfew in order keep him under the school’s watchful eye.
The measures taken by the university proved to be futile as this past Sunday (February 22), mere hours after Louisville’s win against Miami, it is alleged that Jones missed his curfew and it is at this point the sexual assault took place. The following day, the school issued vague statement formally dismissing Jones from the team without giving any explanation.
“(Jones) was permitted to return to the team on Feb. 19 with strict internal disciplinary measures attached, among which included a curfew. It was discovered shortly after noon on Feb. 22 that Chris had violated a curfew and there were other accusations, without knowing specifics. At that time, Chris was immediately dismissed from the team.”
Since turning himself in, it is now apparent that his dismissal is a direct result of the alleged incident. Two other men were also charged with the assault on the second woman. Jalen D. Tilford is charged with rape and sodomy and Tyvon Julah Walker is charged with rape. Both had bond set at $75,000 and $100,000 respectively.
Jones has since moved out of campus housing is correctly living in a nearby hotel room where he is on home incarceration.
