Editor’s note: This story contains accounts of sexual assault. If you or someone you know is a survivor of sexual assault, contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673 or at https://www.rainn.org
Two former New Mexico State players have sued the NMSU board of regents, former coach Greg Heiar, former assistant coach Dominique Taylor and three former players in regard to alleged hazing, claiming that the way they were treated amounted to battery and sexual assault.
The news comes two months after the New Mexico State men’s basketball program’s season was suspended after allegations of hazing incidents involving multiple players were discovered. Heiar was later fired.
The two former players involved in the lawsuit are Deuce Benjamin and Shakiru Odunewu. One instance mentioned in the lawsuit includes Odunewu detailing a time on a bus in which he said three players—Deshawndre Washington, Doctor Bradley and Kim Aiken Jr.—allegedly pinned him down in a bus, pulled his pants down and assaulted him. He claims no one on the bus, including Heiar, tried to intervene.
“Shak was held face down and could not speak due to a hand held over his mouth by one of the three,” the lawsuit states. “He was terrified. They slapped his bare buttocks and he felt fingers inserted into his anus while his scrotum was simultaneously squeezed.”
When Odunewu brought the matter to Taylor’s attention, the assistant coach allegedly responded by laughing and saying “What do you want me to do about it?”
Benjamin also cited instances that he said occurred in the locker room with Washington. Benjamin was told to “pull your a– out,” according to the lawsuit, by Washington in front of a group of women on a trip. Washington allegedly told Benjamin it was part of the “freshman initiation procedure,” and if the freshman didn’t do it, then Washington would “grab his nuts.”
The lawsuit details that Washington “exposed Deuce’s backside and forcefully grabbed (him), inflicting great pain and humiliation. All this occurred in front of the women, which only added to Deuce’s degradation.”
Benjamin announced his intent to enter the transfer portal on Tuesday, one day before the lawsuit became public. However, Benjamin’s initial complaint was given to the school on Feb. 10, the same day the basketball program’s season was suspended due to hazing allegations.
Before the hazing accusations came to light, an investigation previously looked into the allegation that Aggies forward Mike Peake shot and killed 19-year-old University of New Mexico student Brandon Travis last November in what police described as self-defense. After that incident, police reportedly found the gun used in the shooting in the hotel room of an assistant coach. Peake has not been charged for the crime.
