According to the Waco Tribune, Shawn Oakman, a former Baylor defensive end, was indicted on the charge of second-degree sexual assault Wednesday morning.
The McLennan County District Attorney spent the past three months investigating the incident and presented the case to the grand jury this morning; it decided an indictment was warranted.
Oakman allegedly raped a Baylor graduate student at his Waco duplex April 3. Per the affidavit filed from the incident, the woman told police the pair met at a local bar when Oakman asked if she’d like to return to his apartment. When they arrived, she said Oakman forcibly removed her clothes and sexually assaulted her in his bedroom. The police subsequently searched his room later that day after the incident was reported, seizing two comforters, a fitted sheet, and a flat sheet for evidence. Oakman was freed on a $25,000 bail.
In speaking with police, Oakman maintained the sexual encounter was consensual. Oakman’s lawyer, Michelle Tuegel, released a statement to the Tribune today further maintaining Oakman’s innocence in the matter:
“Shawn Oakman maintains his innocence in regard to the recent accusations made against him, and he insists that the sexual relationship in this case was consensual,” said Oakman’s attorney, Michelle Tuegel. “It is unfortunate that this situation has been lumped in with other events that are unrelated. It is important that we not rush to judgment. Every citizen accused of a crime in this country is presumed innocent unless the state proves the accused offense beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. We look forward to vigorously defending Mr. Oakman and presenting the facts involved in this situation.”
Following his arrest, a 2013 report surfaced revealing that Oakman had been accused of assaulting his ex-girlfriend in an incident that allegedly resulted in Oakman screaming at and shoving the woman. The woman opted not to press charges in the case.
Oakman was not selected in this past year’s NFL Draft after news of the sexual assault allegations surfaced.