Matt Araiza Gang Rape Lawsuit: 5 Shocking Details on Controversial Case of Ex-Bills Punter

The alarming lawsuit against Buffalo Bills punter Matt Araiza is starting to come into greater clarity, and these latest revelations only contribute to worsening an already horrible situation.

In a civil complaint filed on Thursday, Araiza and two of his former San Diego State teammates were charged with gang raping the teenager at an off-campus party last autumn, when the star punter was still a player of the Aztecs.

Araiza, Zavier Leonard, and Nowlin "Pa'a" Ewaliko are charged in a complaint that was filed in San Diego County Superior Court with gang raping a female who was then 17 years old at a Halloween party that took place at a house where Araiza had previously resided.

Araiza Told Alleged Victim To Get Tested for STD

In a police-monitored phone call, Araiza allegedly advised his teenage complainant that she should be tested for chlamydia following an alleged hour-and-a-half-long sexual assault that left her "bloody and crying," according to a report from the Daily Snark.

The Los Angeles Times, which broke the news of the Matt Araiza Gang Rape lawsuit first, claims that there is a criminal investigation into the charges.

San Diego Police have not made any arrests or made any suspects' identities known to the general public.
While attorneys for Leonard and Ewaliko chose not to respond, Araiza's counsel denied the charges.

The alleged Matt Araiza Gang Rape occurred in 2021 before Araiza joined the league, thus he would not be covered under the NFL personal conduct code.

Bills Releases Araiza

The team's rookie punter was let go by Buffalo Bills general manager Brandon Beane on Saturday.

Two days after supporting the player based on what the team described as its "thorough examination" of the charges made in the complaint, the Bills decided to break relations with the 22-year-old, which marks a significant about-face for the franchise, per AP news.

It happens less than a week after the Bills released veteran punter Matt Haack on Monday, allowing Araiza to take over the job even though they were aware he was the subject of a police investigation.

"The last 48 hours have been very difficult for a lot of people. It's been tough." Beane said in a 26-minute press conference. "And we sympathize with this whole situation, all the parties involved, this young woman, what she went through."

Beane added: "But at this time, we just think it's the best move for everyone to move on from Matt and let him take care of this situation and focus on that. So, we're gonna part ways there."

A Polarizing Issue

On social media, several people supported the Buffalo Bills' decision to release the controversial athlete due to the serious allegations against him.

However, quite some users spoke out in the 22-year-old's favor, insisting that the inquiry into the issue should be conducted in accordance with due process.

NFL Execs Aware of the Allegations Before Draft

According to a report from Clutch Points, the Associated Press was informed by executives from two separate clubs that Araiza had knowledge of the incident during the draft process, but neither executive was aware of the full depth of the claims.

Three other clubs' executives said they were unaware of the charges against Araiza before the selection and learned about the incident on Thursday.

Due to the sensitivity of the subject, everyone talked to The AP under the condition of anonymity.

Bills Not Responding to the Victim's Camp

The accuser's attorney alleges that after reaching out to the Bills regarding the matter, they never responded.

Kerry Armstrong, Araiza's attorney, defended his client through a text message sent to The Associated Press: "I am sure he is very upset and disappointed that his career with the Bills ended not because he played poorly, but because of false allegations leveled against him by a young lady and her attorney. I hope he is back in the NFL soon."

Dan Gilleon, the victim's attorney, claimed in his statement that when he contacted the Bills in late July with concerns about Araiza, they disregarded them.

After thus mishandling reaction to their claim, the Buffalo Bills were forced to release their promising punter, according to Gilleon, AP News reported.

"They ignored us, (when) I warned them would happen could be avoided if they just kept their heads in the sand. This is what enablers do."

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Nfl, Buffalo bills