Roethlisberger accuser supported by peers

MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga., March 8 (UPI) -- A Georgia student who alleged that NFL star Ben Roethlisberger sexually assaulted her is not the kind of person who seeks attention, two other students said.

Dan Kaufman, who attends Georgia College & State University with the alleged victim, who is 20, said "when you know the girl and you know that she would never bring this on herself, that she doesn't want publicity, then you feel sorry for her," the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reported Monday.

"The fact of the matter is that she doesn't want this type of attention," said Jennifer Noice, who was once a Zeta Tau Alpha sorority member with the woman. "People shouldn't judge her if they don't know her."

The Tribune-Review said several other students had similar comments about the woman.

The alleged victim told police the 28-year-old Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback assaulted her at Milledgeville's Capital City bar late Thursday or early Friday.

Roethlisberger is cooperating with police, his agent said in a report in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

The Milledgeville Police Department said police would interview Roethlisberger within two or three days, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.

Ed Garland, an attorney for Roethlisberger, told the Journal-Constitution: "The facts show that there was no criminal activity. No sexual assault occurred. Ben is completely innocent of any crime."

The allegations against Roethlisberger mark the second time he has been linked to sexual assault. A woman alleged she was raped by the quarterback in a Lake Tahoe, Nev., hotel room in 2008. No criminal charges were filed, but the woman, Andrea McNulty, filed a civil suit against Roethlisberger, seeking an apology and $440,000.