LOGAN — Attorneys are working out a possible plea agreement for a 24-year-old former Utah State football player accused of raping a woman last year.

A pre-trial conference for Lamar A. Dawson took place in 1st District Court Monday morning. He was previously charged with rape, a first-degree felony.

Public defender Shannon Demler explained that he had been discussing the options of a plea deal with prosecutors but needed more time. He said the process had taken longer than expected because the victim’s attorney is also involved. Details of the agreement were not disclosed.

Judge Thomas Willmore said he would allow more time to resolve the case. He scheduled another pre-trial conference for March 10.

According to police officers, the victim originally met Dawson on a social media app. The two had a friendship for several months. On the evening of February 14, the two exchanged multiple text message, when Dawson was asked to return a speaker to her. During the exchanges, the woman admitted several times to being very intoxicated after drinking half a bottle of vodka.

The victim claimed that she could only remember portions of the rest of the night, including Dawson coming over to her apartment and watching TV in her bedroom. They began kissing and the next thing she remembered, he was allegedly raping her.

The police report states that when detectives spoke with Dawson, he first denied but later admitted to having sex. He said he lied about it previously because he was afraid the victim was trying to “pin” something on him.

Demler claimed previously that Dawson’s relationship with the victim was always consensual.

Dawson previously pleaded “not guilty” to the crime. He was a member of the 2018 USU football team as a red-shirt sophomore. He is no longer listed on the current team roster and is living in Chicago, Illinois.


will@cvradio.com



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