James Franklin declined to comment on rape allegations against former Penn State football players

Penn State coach James Franklin declined to answer questions from reporters Wednesday after two of his former players were accused of raping a 17-year-old girl in their apartment on July 7.

Former Nittany Lions defensive end Jameal Lyons, 19, is charged with felony rape without consent, aggravated assault, voluntary deviant sexual intercourse and indecent assault without consent, and invasion of privacy without consent.

Former Penn State linebacker Kaveion Keys, 19, is charged with felony rape, aggravated assault without consent and sexual assault without consent and misdemeanor indecent assault.

Lyons was held on $500,000 bond by Center County Magisterial District Judge Donald M. Hahn was released during an argument Wednesday; Key was released on $400,000 bond.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Oct. 30

After Wednesday’s practice, a reporter began asking Franklin about the criminal case. Franklin stepped away from the microphone, and a university spokesman read a prepared statement: “Regarding the two former Penn State football players, we released a statement yesterday and our program and athletics department will have no further comment.”

When another reporter tried to ask Franklin about firing the players, he walked away again.

“Again, friends, the university has already released a statement,” the spokesperson said.

Center Daily Times posted a video of the exchange between Franklin and reporters on its social media account.

James Franklin declined to comment on the rape allegations against former players. My story, including video (from @JacksonRanger1) when Franklin was asked:https://t.co/9pbLokyZag pic.twitter.com/JUMZWhMbOR

— John Saber (@JohnSaber) October 24, 2024

According to a police criminal complaint and probable cause affidavit obtained by ESPN, the 17-year-old student told police she met Key and Lyons at an off-campus apartment on campus on July 6 and went to their apartment the next morning.

The girl told police that Key and Lyons supplied her and two other girls with alcohol. While he was watching TV with the players in Keys’ bedroom, the players smoked marijuana, according to the affidavit.

The girl told the police that while she was trying to fall asleep, the players approached her from two sides and touched her without consent. She told police that the two forced her to perform oral sex with them.

She said the players raped her and she could not stop them because of their size. He told police his arms were restrained and the players grabbed him by the neck and choked him several times. She said she couldn’t breathe.

The girl told police she saw a camera flash, which she believed was from a player recording video.

According to the affidavit, he “physically resisted and was able to get away. He yelled and swore at Keyes and Lyons.” She tried to wake two other women in the apartment.

Lyons “grabbed the victim, took him outside and threw him to the ground,” police said.

Police allege that Lyons told the girl, “B—-, you’re never coming back here and stay out of our lives.”

Another woman told police that after waking up to vomit in the apartment, Lyons took her to his bedroom. She told police she woke up without her pants on, while Lyon was sexually assaulting her.

On July 8, Penn State University police served a search warrant at the apartment and interviewed Lyons and Keys. Initially, Keyes told police the women were in their apartment on July 7, but denied knowing the 17-year-old girl or having sex with any of the women.

Lyons told police that he had sex with the 17-year-old girl and that Kiss took part in a sexual encounter. The affidavit states that Lyons “demonstrated the manner in which he grabbed the girl’s arm and grabbed her neck.”

“Lyons expressed a belief that the contact was consensual; however, Lyons expressed an awareness that the victim would likely report the situation to the police,” the affidavit states.

Police said a “short video recording of indecent contact” with the 17-year-old was located on Key’s cellphone camera roll.

Penn State suspended Lyons and Keys from the football team in August.

“We are aware of serious allegations against Mr. Keys and Mr. Lyons, who are no longer enrolled at the university,” a university spokesperson said in a statement. “The safety of our community is our highest priority, and Penn State takes any report of sexual harassment or misconduct very seriously and investigates any and all reports.”

Lyons, of Philadelphia, played in eight games as a freshman at Penn State in 2023. Keys, from Varina, Virginia, did not play and redshirted last season