UT players arrested for sexual assault

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Two University of Texas football players were arrested and charged Thursday with felony sexual assault after a female student said she was raped in a campus dorm room last month.

Wide receivers Kendall Sanders and Montrel Meander were later released on personal recognizance bonds. According to an arrest affidavit, Sanders and Meander texted each other during earlier interviews with police to “get their story straight” and Sanders also faces a charge of improper photography tied to the alleged assault on June 21.

 

Man charged in death of A.P.’s son

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — A man accused of killing the 2-year-old son of Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson has pleaded not guilty for an alleged attack on the boy’s mother.

Twenty-eight-year-old Joseph Patterson was arraigned Thursday in Sioux Falls on charges of aggravated assault and kidnapping. He’s accused of attacking the mother of Tyrese Ruffin in June and holding her against her will for over an hour.

Patterson is facing second-degree murder, manslaughter and aggravated assault charges for the boy’s death in October 2013. Trial on those charges is scheduled for October.

 

Knoblauch arrested for assault

HOUSTON (AP) — Former baseball star Chuck Knoblauch has been charged with misdemeanor assault after authorities in Houston say he hit and pushed his ex-wife.

Knoblauch has been released on $10,000 bond. His first court date is set for July 30. The four-time All-Star previously served a year of probation after being convicted of hitting his previous wife in 2010.

Knoblauch played for the Minnesota Twins, New York Yankees and Kansas City Royals during a 12-year career.

He was set to be inducted into the Twins Hall of Fame in August. The Twins issued a statement Thursday saying that “in light of recent news reports surrounding Chuck Knoblauch, as well as direct communication” with Knoblauch, they have decided to cancel the Aug. 23 ceremony.

 

Griffith withdraws from USA team

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Blake Griffin has withdrawn from playing for the U.S. national basketball team this summer.

The Los Angeles Clippers star was one of 19 players selected to the roster from which the World Cup team will be chosen.

Griffin said Thursday that he wants to dedicate all his energy on improving and preparing for the upcoming NBA season.

 

Ex-Redskins’ TE surrenders to police

WASHINGTON (AP) — Former Washington Redskins tight end Fred Davis has turned himself in to police in a domestic violence case.

Metropolitan Police Department spokesman Araz Alali says Davis turned himself in Thursday. Police say Davis, who lives in Leesburg, Virginia, is facing a domestic violence simple assault charge. Police say on June 2, Davis confronted a former lover at a restaurant and threw dirt from a plant box at her.

Davis was suspended indefinitely by the NFL in February for his second violation of the league’s substance-abuse policy. He said he was suspended for taking a supplement that included a banned substance. A day after his suspension was announced, he was charged in Virginia with driving while intoxicated.

Davis played for the Redskins from 2008-2013.

 

Ravens’ Rice gets 2-game suspension

OWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP) — Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice received a two-game suspension from the NFL on Thursday following his offseason arrest for domestic violence.

Rice will miss the season opener against AFC North champion Cincinnati on Sept. 7 and the Sept. 11 game on Thursday night against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The six-year veteran was arrested following a Feb. 15 altercation in Atlantic City, New Jersey, in which he allegedly struck then-fiancee Janay Palmer. The 27-year-old Rice has been accepted into a diversion program, which upon completion could lead to the charges being expunged.

 

Yankees get Capuano from Rockies

NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Yankees have acquired left-hander Chris Capuano from the Colorado Rockies in their latest trade with a team from the NL West.

The Yankees announced after Thursday’s 4-2 win over Texas that they’d gotten the 35-year-old Capuano for cash. Capuano started the season with Boston and went 1-1 with a 4.55 ERA in 28 relief appearances.

The Red Sox released him on July 1 and he signed with Colorado. He made four total starts in Triple-A and Double-A for the Rockies.

Capuano has pitched with Arizona, Milwaukee, the Mets, the Dodgers and Boston in parts of 10 major league seasons. He was an NL All-Star in 2006.

Earlier this month, the Yankees made trades to get pitcher Brandon McCarthy from Arizona and third baseman Chase Headley from San Diego.