MINNEAPOLIS -- University of Minnesota freshman basketball player Mitchell Lee wascharged Thursday with allegedly raping a 20-year-old woman in a campus dormitory.
The 6-foot-9 forward from Carol City, Fla., is scheduled to appear Monday in Hennepin County District Court, facing charges of third-degree criminal sexual conduct. He can receive a maximum penalty of 10 years in jail and $10,000 in fines.
Coach Jim Dutcher said Lee, 18, would not play until the matter is resolved, although he is still on the team and has not been suspended.
'Mitchell Lee is entitled to due process under the law and is innocent until proven guilty. Allegations are just that, and innunendo or rumor should not impede his right to a fair hearing,' Dutcher said in a statement.
'However, the attention that has been given to this situation makes it impossible for Mitchell to continue as a member of our basketball team. Under the present circumstances, he cannot give the necessary time, effort and concentration necessary to play Big Ten basketball. His not playing should not prejudice the case and is in no way an assumption of guilt.'
Lee accompanied the team to Columbus, Ohio, for Thursday's game against Ohio State, but did not attend the game, staying in his hotel room, Bob Peterson, university sports information director, said.
A dozen people picketed outside St. John's Arena Thursday night in Columbus, Ohio, before the game. Lee had been expected to play since charges had not been filed when the team left Minneapolis.
The protesters, mostly women, carried signs, yelling 'Stop protecting athletes. A woman's life is worth more than sports.'
Lee is accused of sexually assaulting the woman Jan. 22. He surrendered last Friday and was released in the custody of Gopher assistant coach Jimmy Williams.
University Police Chief Eugene Wilson was critical of how county authorities handled the case.
'I just don't know why there's been a delay,' Wilson said. 'That's what frustrates me. A rape was reported to us and there's been no evidence to the contrary.'
Replied Assistant County Attorney James Gaffney: 'He's entitled to his opinion. Under these particular cimcumstances, I don't consider it a delay at all.'
Lee, a starter, averages 27 minutes a game and is the team's second leading rebounder.
The Gophers have been shaken by two other events. Associate athletic director Robert Geary and his wife, Kathleen, were among the 69 people killed in the Jan. 21 air crash near Reno, Nev. Funeral services were Thursday.
Last weekend freshman guard Todd Alexander was the target of a misdemeanor complaint for allegedly misusing a lost or stolen bank cash card.
Minnesota lost 56-61 Saturday to Northwestern, the worst team in the Big Ten.
'The last few days haven't been normal and everybody is aware of that,' Dutcher said. 'The concentration just hasn't been there.'
