TAMPA — USF junior defensive end LaDarrius Jackson was arrested Monday night on charges of sexual battery and false imprisonment of another student at an on-campus residential hall.

 

USF police Capt. Mike Klingbiel said Jackson was about to catch a plane home — spring semester just ended at the school — when he was contacted by authorities and detained at Tampa International Airport.

 

"We have nothing to believe he was fleeing because of the incident," Klingbiel said. "He was simply there flying home. We called him. He didn't get on the plane; he waited for us."

 

According to an arrest report filed by USF police, Jackson forced a woman to perform sex Monday afternoon despite her verbal and physical efforts to resist him. He forced her into her room after she placed her hands on a wall in an attempt to stop him, the report says, then pushed her onto the bed and straddled her.

 

The victim told investigators she did not leave the room because she feared Jackson — who stands 6-foot-4 and weighs 243 pounds — would try to stop her, the report says. She immediately reported the incident to university housing staff, who helped her in contacting police, according to a news release issued Tuesday morning.

 

No physical injuries were reported to police, and the victim and suspect "were known acquaintances," news releases indicated. Klingbiel said he didn't know the exact nature of their relationship.

 

Jackson is charged with sexual assault/sexual battery on a person 18 or older and false imprisonment/kidnapping of an adult. He remained held without bond Tuesday.

 

He has no prior arrests in Florida, according to state records.

 

In a statement released by USF, first-year Bulls coach Charlie Strong said Jackson has been removed from all team activities for the time being.

 

"We are aware of the charges filed against (Jackson)," Strong said. "While we find the allegations troubling, we will continue to gather information and support the judicial process before providing further comment."

 

Jackson, of Birmingham, Ala., played in seven games last season with three tackles, according to his bio on the USF football website. He joined USF after transferring from Hinds Community College in Jackson, Miss.

 

A close friend of Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston, Jackson is the second Bulls player to be arrested in slightly more than a month.

 

In late March, defensive back Hassan Childs was arrested on assault and marijuana-possession charges in the wake of a suspected road-rage incident that left him with gunshot wounds. Days later, Strong announced Childs' dismissal from the team.

 

USF football player LaDarrius Jackson arrested on sexual battery charge | Tampa Bay Times

I read this yesterday in newspaper. A very disturbing situation. The judge blasted Charlie Strong too... WATCH: Judge personally calls out Charlie Strong in scathing rebuke - FootballScoop

 

This is the second major incident involving a USF football in the last 2 months and while I kind of like what the judge said to player, I would be pointing the finger more at Willie Taggart because he was the one that accepted these two players to a part of the USF community more so than Charlie Strong who is now dealing with some of the knuckle heads Willie brought on.

Do the Bengals need a defensive end?

Ryan Bass

@Ry_Bass

22 minutes ago

 

 

Urban Meyer had 31 players arrested under his watch at UF. This? Out of Strong's control. These aren't even players he recruited. Ignorance.

Yeah not sure how that's Charlie's fault.

Coach Strong's response:

 

Strong responded with a statement of his own, released by USF.

 

"In the short time I have been here our program has been built on character, discipline and family. We have wonderful young men in the USF football program who choose to do the right thing every day. We are dedicated to recruiting young men of high character, and to consistently developing them with structure and frequent education regarding appropriate conduct and behavior, on and off the playing field. While I am shocked and saddened at the recent arrest of a member of our team, I am disappointed that the actions of two players over the last two months have harmed the reputation of our program, of our wonderful university and of my character. We have high expectations of our coaches, staff and student-athletes and we hold accountable those who act contrary to our values."

I just watched the video. That judge clearly had some axe to grind with Strong, for whatever reason. Completely off base, IMO.

TAMPA — USF junior defensive end LaDarrius Jackson was arrested Monday night on charges of sexual battery and false imprisonment of another student at an on-campus residential hall.

 

USF police Capt. Mike Klingbiel said Jackson was about to catch a plane home — spring semester just ended at the school — when he was contacted by authorities and detained at Tampa International Airport.

 

"We have nothing to believe he was fleeing because of the incident," Klingbiel said. "He was simply there flying home. We called him. He didn't get on the plane; he waited for us."

 

According to an arrest report filed by USF police, Jackson forced a woman to perform sex Monday afternoon despite her verbal and physical efforts to resist him. He forced her into her room after she placed her hands on a wall in an attempt to stop him, the report says, then pushed her onto the bed and straddled her.

 

The victim told investigators she did not leave the room because she feared Jackson — who stands 6-foot-4 and weighs 243 pounds — would try to stop her, the report says. She immediately reported the incident to university housing staff, who helped her in contacting police, according to a news release issued Tuesday morning.

 

No physical injuries were reported to police, and the victim and suspect "were known acquaintances," news releases indicated. Klingbiel said he didn't know the exact nature of their relationship.

 

Jackson is charged with sexual assault/sexual battery on a person 18 or older and false imprisonment/kidnapping of an adult. He remained held without bond Tuesday.

 

He has no prior arrests in Florida, according to state records.

 

In a statement released by USF, first-year Bulls coach Charlie Strong said Jackson has been removed from all team activities for the time being.

 

"We are aware of the charges filed against (Jackson)," Strong said. "While we find the allegations troubling, we will continue to gather information and support the judicial process before providing further comment."

 

Jackson, of Birmingham, Ala., played in seven games last season with three tackles, according to his bio on the USF football website. He joined USF after transferring from Hinds Community College in Jackson, Miss.

 

A close friend of Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston, Jackson is the second Bulls player to be arrested in slightly more than a month.

 

In late March, defensive back Hassan Childs was arrested on assault and marijuana-possession charges in the wake of a suspected road-rage incident that left him with gunshot wounds. Days later, Strong announced Childs' dismissal from the team.

 

USF football player LaDarrius Jackson arrested on sexual battery charge | Tampa Bay Times

 

:ohbrother:

Ryan Bass

@Ry_Bass

22 minutes ago

 

 

Urban Meyer had 31 players arrested under his watch at UF. This? Out of Strong's control. These aren't even players he recruited. Ignorance.

 

Truth. I think Strong will right the ship but first he has to be given a chance to see why it was sinking.

I trust Charlie with this, judge can bite it.

Yeah not sure how that's Charlie's fault.

 

Agree.

Judge Taylor has been getting ripped unmercifully by everybody on twitter, not only her fellow alums and other USF faithful, but by Florida, Alabama, Florida State, Miami, Texas, and Louisville fans and media, only to mention the biggest supporters of Coach Strong.

 

I need to relay the fact that the Judge did appear on a episode of HGTV's House Hunters, so it has been implied by some that she likes the attention.

 

However...

 

"After video of Hillsborough County Judge Margaret Taylor went viral of her scolding USF Head coach Charlie Strong, Sue Carlton of the Tampa Bay Times reported on Thursday morning that Taylor has voluntarily taken herself off the case.

 

According to the story, Taylor issued an order to voluntarily disqualify herself from the case on Thursday morning citing a a state judicial rule about a defendant fearing he won't get a fair hearing because of "prejudice or bias of the judge."

 

She declined to make any comment."

Good.

TAMPA — A Hillsborough judge made news last week when she publicly blasted University of South Florida football coach Charlie Strong after one of his players was charged with sexual battery.

 

But this week, relations were decidedly better between Judge Margaret Taylor and Coach Strong when the two had a cordial meeting at the courthouse Tuesday.

 

"It was a very positive conversation," reported Chief Judge Ron Ficarrotta, who met Strong for coffee and asked if he would be willing to meet with the judge who gave him the dressing-down. Strong agreed, and the two spoke for about ten minutes in the chief judge's chambers.

 

"I think Coach Strong was able to educate Judge Taylor on some of the issues," Ficarrotta said. "It went very well."

 

In courtroom video gone viral, Judge Taylor had advised the new USF coach to "think long and hard" about the job "before any other members of this community have to suffer at the hands of one of your players." At the time, Taylor was deciding bail for defensive end LaDarrius Jackson, 22, who is charged with the sexual battery and false imprisonment of a woman he knew in her dorm room. This week he was charged with the sexual battery of another woman in March.

 

First the judge ripped into Jackson, saying if the allegations were true, his behavior was "outrageous" and she was "embarrassed and ashamed" to be a USF graduate.

 

Then she went after the coach, who was not in court, noting another Bulls player was recently charged in a road rage incident and questioned whether the coach had control of his team.

 

Her stinging rebuke made USA Today and ESPN. In the fallout, some questioned her impartiality in a case that hadn't yet gone to trial, while others said her comments were not in line with Strong's record for discipline. The judge voluntarily removed herself from the case.

 

Before the meeting Tuesday, the chief judge gave Coach Strong a tour of the courthouse, where he shook hands with fans in the hallways and sat in on drug court.

 

Neither the coach nor the judge could be reached for comment Wednesday regarding the rapprochement. But Brian Siegrist, associate director for communication for USF athletics, called it "a very good meeting on both sides. And they both left with a good understanding."

 

"I know he appreciated the judge reaching out to him," Siegrist said.

 

Judge and USF football coach she chastised have 'positive' meeting at Tampa courthouse | Tampa Bay Times