Xavier Eaglin. (Cornell University Police Department)
A 19-year-old Cornell University basketball player has been accused of rape, Cornell University Police say.
Xavier Eaglin, a freshman on the Big Red basketball team, was arrested Saturday and charged with four felonies, police said in a press release.
Eaglin is charged with first-degree rape and three counts of first-degree criminal sexual act, both class B felonies. He was also charged with criminal obstruction of breathing or blood circulation, a class A misdemeanor.
The university and its athletic department have not commented about the arrest. Eaglin remains in police custody.
Here’s what you need to know:
1. He Is Accused of Raping a Student in Her Dorm Room & Choking Her to Muffle Her Screams
(Instagram)
Xavier Eaglin is accused of raping a female student on February 15 in Balch Hall, a first year dormitory, according to the felony complaint in the case, which was obtained by the Ithaca Journal.
Police say Eaglin raped the student in her dorm room despite “repeated verbal denial of consent.” He is also accused of obstructing her breathing by holding his hand over her mouth and choking her by the neck with his other hand to “muffle her screams to stop,” according to the court documents.
The victim told investigators she feared he would physically harm her further if she resisted.
According to the Cornell Daily Sun, Eaglin confessed in an interview with investigators.
Police also said they have a tape of a phone cal between Eaglin and another person in which he admits to the rape.
2. He Is a Texas Native & Picked Cornell Over Yale & Loyola-Maryland
(Instagram)
Eaglin is a native of Raywood, Texas, and played at Dayton High School, according to his biography on the Cornell basketball website.
The 6 foot 7 inch forward was a first-team all-district and district player of the year during high school last year.
Eaglin committed to Cornell last February, choosing the university over Yale and Loyola-Maryland, according to The Cornell Basketball Blog.
3. He Has Played a Total of 9 Minutes During His Freshman Season at Cornell
(Instagram)
Eaglin has not played a major role for the Cornell basketball team this season, according to the school website.
He has played in just six games, and for a total of nine minutes during his first season with the Big Red. He did not score during those games.
Eaglin did play on March 4 for one minute, a game that came two weeks after the alleged rape. It is not clear if he was under investigation at the time or when the alleged assault was reported to police.
4. He Is Being Held on $100,000 Bond & Will Be Back in Court Friday
Xavier Eaglin. (Instagram)
The Cornell Police Department said Eaglin is being held at the Tompkins County Jail on $100,000 bond. He is due back in court on March 11 at 2:30 p.m. for a preliminary hearing. He was arraigned Monday.
“The Cornell University Police urge anyone who has been a victim of sexual assault to call 911 to receive police assistance, emergency health care for injuries (appropriate to your circumstance), get access to supportive services and – if you choose to do so – to report a crime,” the department said in a press release.
5. A Cornell Fraternity President Was Charged With Attempted Rape Earlier This Year
Wolfgang Ballinger. (Cornell University Police Department)
Eaglin is the second high-profile sexual assault arrest at Cornell University this year. Wolfgang Ballinger, the 21-year-old president of the Psi Upsilon fraternity, was arrested in February and charged with attempted rape.
Ballinger is accused of trying to rape a woman on January 31 in his bedroom at the fraternity house, CBS News reports.
He has denied the charges through an attorney.
“His innocence will be established at the proper time and in the proper place-which is in the courts, not in the media,” attorney James Baker said in a statement. “Beyond that, we have no comment.”
