Gender-Based Violence in Sports Database

Ruben Patterson
Ruben Patterson
×Basketball
Athlete
Year: 2000
Date of Assault: September 25 2000
Organization: NBA
Team: Seattle SuperSonics
Status at time of incident: Active
Victim-Offender Relationship: Child's caregiver
Number of Victims: 1
Type of Violence: Sexual Assault
Summary: Patterson forced his nanny to perform oral sex
Organization Response: Could not find exact response, but several articles mentioned he would be suspended from multiple games without pay and face up to a $100,000 fine.
Charges: Y
Summary of Charges: misdemeanor sexual-assault--third-degree attempted rape
Date charges filed: May 2001
Date of court's decision/Case outcome: May 2001
Outcome: Patterson entered an Alford plea deal. He was sentenced to one year in jail, with all but 15 days suspended. He also paid a $5,000 fine, as well as court costs and $500 plus restitution to the nanny. He was required to register as a sex offender. Despite this conviction, he still played professional basketball.
Sources/Links:
https://www.espn.com/nba/news/2001/0507/1192941.html; https://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/Patterson-sentenced-to-jail-1054755.php; https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/?date=20010508&slug=ruben08

Reuben Droughns
Reuben Droughns
×Football
Athlete
Year: 2006
Date of Assault: 5/12/2006
Organization: NFL
Team: Cleveland Browns
Status at time of incident: Active
Victim-Offender Relationship: Wife
Number of Victims: 1
Type of Violence: Assault
Summary: he and his wife were arguing, he threw her to the ground and then on the bed after she told him she wanted a divorce. He carried her outside on her shoulders, threw her outside, and locked the door. He eventually let her back in and then left the house with her wedding ring, her credit cards and cash
Organization Response: none
Charges: Y
Summary of Charges: third degree assault and harassment
Date charges filed: 5/12/2006
Date of court's decision/Case outcome: 10/5/2006
Outcome: dropped due to lack of evidence
Sources/Links:
https://www.patriots.com/news/droughns-to-face-domestic-violence-charge-168546; https://www.espn.com/nfl/news/story?id=2638191

Jonathan Dwyer
Jonathan Dwyer
×Football
Athlete
Year: 2014
Date of Assault: 2014
Organization: NFL
Team: Arizona Cardinals
Status at time of incident: Active
Victim-Offender Relationship: Wife
Number of Victims: 1
Type of Violence: IPV
Summary: aggravated assault incident; headbutted his wife and broke her nose after she refused to have sex with him and punched her in the face the next day
Organization Response: Could not find organization response
Charges: Y
Summary of Charges: aggravated assault
Date charges filed: No date found
Date of court's decision/Case outcome: No date found
Outcome: no outcome found
Sources/Links:
https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/nfl/cardinals/2014/09/17/five-cards-arrested-domestic-violence-since/15812735/; https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2761633/Cardinals-release-SECOND-player-domestic-violence-charges-two-days.html

Jon Herb
Jon Herb
×Auto Racing
Athlete
Year: 2013
Date of Assault: October 13th, 2013
Organization: IndyCar
Team: Tri-Star Racing
Status at time of incident: Retired
Victim-Offender Relationship: Minor
Number of Victims: 1
Type of Violence: Sexual Assault
Summary: Arrested after Herb's wife reported him to the police station after finding pictures of nude girls on his laptop. Photos included him peforming sexual acts with a girl who was (allegedly) 4 years old
Organization Response: None found
Charges: Y
Summary of Charges: Child pornography, lewd and lascivious molestation
Date charges filed: 2013
Date of court's decision/Case outcome: January 5th, 2016
Outcome: 25 years in prison and lifetime probation
Sources/Links:
https://archive.naplesnews.com/news/crime/former-indy-car-driver-gets-25-years-in-prison-for-collier-child-sex-abuse-28982ffc-4dd8-1224-e053-0-364244401.html/

Johnny Newman
Johnny Newman
×Basketball
Athlete
Year: 2005
Date of Assault: 11/14/2005
Organization: Minor League
Team: Richmond Generals
Status at time of incident: Retired
Victim-Offender Relationship: Wife
Number of Victims: 1
Type of Violence: IPV
Summary:
Organization Response:
Charges: Y
Summary of Charges:
Date charges filed:
Date of court's decision/Case outcome: 60 days in jail (suspended) and fined $500
Outcome:
Sources/Links:
https://www.espn.com/nba/news/story?id=2226136

John Rembao
John Rembao
×Track
Coach
Year: Multiple
Date of Assault: 1998-2000
Organization: NCAA
Team: University of Texas at Austin; University of Arizona
Status at time of incident: Active
Victim-Offender Relationship: coach abusing athletes
Number of Victims: 3
Type of Violence: Sexual Assault
Summary: Rembao is accused of sexual assault of several female collegiate athletes. He reportedly groomed the young girls while they were in high school, then assaulted them once he coached them in college. He was in charge of the girls' athletic scholarship and career, which he used to his advantage in the abuse.; Abuse occurred between 1998 and 2000.
Organization Response: Rembao was able to bounce between schools to outrun allegations. Even though victims came forward, the universities did not respond appropriately.
Charges: N
Summary of Charges: The victims filed a class-action lawsuit against the NCAA in 2020, claiming they failed to protect them even when the schools were aware of allegations because they do not have strict rules about sexual misconduct. The statute of limitations has passed in Arizona and Texas, so Rembao will not be charged. Instead, the victims hope to change the NCAA's conduct and procedure regarding sexual assault of athletes.
Date charges filed: March 11, 2020
Date of court's decision/Case outcome: N/A
Outcome: Lawsuit was dropped as the parties agreed to dismiss the case. A lawyer for the athletes said a settlement had been reached and that plaintiffs could not reveal its terms.
Sources/Links:
https://www.hookem.com/story/20200603/ncaa-argues-former-texas-track-coach-sex-abuse-case-no-legal-duty-protect-athletes/ https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/2020/03/11/sex-harassment-prominent-track-and-field-coach-accused-lawsuit/5010694002/; https://thedailytexan.com/2022/07/25/class-action-lawsuit-claiming-sexual-abuse-harassment-by-former-ut-track-coach-dropped/

Glory Johnson
Glory Johnson
×Basketball
Athlete
Year: 2015
Date of Assault: April 22, 2015
Organization: WNBA
Team: Tulsa Shock
Status at time of incident: Active
Victim-Offender Relationship: Wife - Brittney Griner
Number of Victims: 1
Type of Violence: IPV
Summary: The two players were arrested for fighting in their house. Brittney had a bite mark on her finger and scratches on her wrist. Glory had a scratch above her lip and had a concussion
Organization Response: Suspended for 7 games; required to attend counseling
Charges: Y
Summary of Charges: disorderly conduct
Date charges filed: April 22, 2015
Date of court's decision/Case outcome: N/A
Outcome: agreed to 26 weeks of domestic violence counseling
Sources/Links:
https://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/16/spagreed%20to%2026%20weeks%20of%20domestic%20violence%20counselingorts/basketball/wnba-suspends-brittney-griner-and-glory-johnson-in-domestic-violence-case.html; https://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/13261979/glory-johnson-pleads-not-guilty-domestic-violence-case-involving-brittney-griner

Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo
×Soccer
Athlete
Year: 2009
Date of Assault: 2009
Organization: Real Madrid
Team:
Status at time of incident: Active
Victim-Offender Relationship: Relationship unknown
Number of Victims: 1
Type of Violence: Sexual Assault
Summary: Kathryn Mayorga and Ronaldo met in a club in Las Vegas, went back to his room with him, where he sexually assaulted her; Ronaldo claimed the sex was consensual
Organization Response: no response
Charges: N
Summary of Charges: no charges filed at time of assault.
Date charges filed: N/A
Date of court's decision/Case outcome: N/A--case was thrown out
Outcome: in 2010, Ronaldo paid 375k on the premise that she would never talk about it again; after 2018 and the #metoo movement, she wanted to reopen the case
Sources/Links:
https://www.bbc.com/news/topics/c12jzjr2m73t/ronaldo-rape-allegation; https://www.businessinsider.com/cristiano-ronaldo-denies-rape-allegations-timeline-everything-we-know-so-far-2019-3

Cornelius Bennett
Cornelius Bennett
×Football
Athlete
Year: 1997
Date of Assault: 1997
Organization: NFL
Team: Atlanta Falcons
Status at time of incident: Active
Victim-Offender Relationship: Stranger
Number of Victims: 1
Type of Violence: Sexual Assault
Summary: Raped a woman in a hotel room
Organization Response: Was not suspended or fined by NFL, no official statement
Charges: Y
Summary of Charges: vicious acts during sexual assault
Date charges filed: March 1997
Date of court's decision/Case outcome: February 1998
Outcome: 60 days in jail (served 36), $1,000 fine, $617.26 hospital bill, 100 hours of community service, anger management and substance abuse counseling
Sources/Links:
https://buffalonews.com/sports/bills/inside-cornelius-bennetts-exclusion-from-bills-wall-of-fame/article_73b76e23-10db-55da-83c2-49ed93e739dd.html

Corey Benjamin
Corey Benjamin
×Basketball
Athlete
Year: 2016
Date of Assault: November 15, 2016
Organization: NBA
Team: Retired
Status at time of incident: Retired
Victim-Offender Relationship: Girlfriend
Number of Victims: 1
Type of Violence: IPV
Summary: during an argument, Benjamin took girlfriend's phone, smashed it, and then physically blocked the house phone to prevent her from calling 911
Organization Response: retired at the time--no response
Charges: Y
Summary of Charges: no specifics--articles mention 1 felony and 2 misdemeanors
Date charges filed: warrant issued for arrest in May 2016
Date of court's decision/Case outcome: no date found
Outcome: Could not find
Sources/Links:
https://www.tmz.com/2016/11/17/corey-benjamin-arrested-domestic-violence/
Year: 2000
Date of Assault: October 18, 2000
Organization: NBA
Team: Chicago Bills
Status at time of incident: Active
Victim-Offender Relationship: Girlfriend
Number of Victims: 1
Type of Violence: IPV
Summary: got into argument about buying diapers for their child, slapped and choked girlfriend, broke down door
Organization Response: no response found
Charges: None found
Summary of Charges: domestic battery
Date charges filed: no date found
Date of court's decision/Case outcome: there was a hearing set for november 1st
Outcome: Could not find
Sources/Links:
https://apnews.com/article/b541909615a7026dfd4ecdd9aaa28ec8

Chris Benoit
Chris Benoit
×Wrestling
Athlete
Year: 2007
Date of Assault: June 2007
Organization: WWE
Team:
Status at time of incident: Active
Victim-Offender Relationship: Wife and son
Number of Victims: 2
Type of Violence: IPV
Summary: Benoit murdered his wife and son and then took his own life. Reports indicate that alcohol, testosterone and other drugs, and severe brain injury are the cause.
Organization Response: WWE has erased Benoit's name and history from their website. At the time, when there was speculation that Benoit's head injuries were to blame, WWE denied that possibility.
Charges: N
Summary of Charges: No charges; Benoit died by suicide after murdering his wife and son.
Date charges filed: N/A
Date of court's decision/Case outcome: N/A
Outcome: WWE has erased Benoit's name and history from their website
Sources/Links:
https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/tv/a31896656/chris-benoit-dark-side-of-the-ring-wrestling-murder-suicide-true-story/ ; https://talksport.com/sport/wrestling/689459/chris-benoit-tragedy-family-son-suicide-wwe-documentary/

Chad Johnson
Chad Johnson
×Football
Athlete
Year: 2012
Date of Assault: 2012
Organization: NFL
Team: Miami Dolphins
Status at time of incident: Active
Victim-Offender Relationship: Wife
Number of Victims: 1
Type of Violence: IPV
Summary: Johnson (Ochocinco) caused a laceration to his wife's face during an argument
Organization Response: Cut from the team and suffered in his career afterwards
Charges: Y
Summary of Charges: domestic battery
Date charges filed: August 2012
Date of court's decision/Case outcome: 2013
Outcome: Pled no contest. Underwent therapy for those involved in IPV.
Sources/Links:
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2013/jun/10/chad-ochocinco-johnson-jail-domestic-violence

Ben Roethlisberger
Ben Roethlisberger
×Football
Athlete
Year: 2008
Date of Assault: 2008
Organization: NFL
Team: Pittsburgh Steelers
Status at time of incident: Active
Victim-Offender Relationship: Stranger
Number of Victims: 1
Type of Violence: Sexual Assault
Summary: Accused of raping a hotel employee
Organization Response: NFL took no action
Charges: N
Summary of Charges: Victim filed a civil suit in 2009
Date charges filed: No charges filed - civil suit
Date of court's decision/Case outcome: January 2012
Outcome: The suit was settled out of court in 2012--not sure what exact settlement included
Sources/Links:
https://www.vice.com/en/article/bmwe8w/ben-roethlisberger-quarterback-twice-accused-of-sexual-assault
Year: 2010
Date of Assault: 2010
Organization: NFL
Team: Pittsburgh Steelers
Status at time of incident: Active
Victim-Offender Relationship: Stranger
Number of Victims: 1
Type of Violence: Sexual Assault
Summary: Accused of raping a young woman in a bar bathroom after buying her drinks
Organization Response: Suspended for four games and lost several endorsement deals. However, he signed a $87.4 million deal with Steelers in 2015 and was the 11th-highest-paid athlete in the world in 2015
Charges: N
Summary of Charges: Victim accused Roethlisberger of rape
Date charges filed: April 12, 2010 announced no charges would be pursued
Date of court's decision/Case outcome: N/A
Outcome: The victim decided not to press charges because she was afraid of the process of the trial and potential backlash
Sources/Links:
https://www.vice.com/en/article/bmwe8w/ben-roethlisberger-quarterback-twice-accused-of-sexual-assault

Ben Johnson
Ben Johnson
×Hockey
Athlete
Year: 2013
Date of Assault: 2013
Organization: Ontario Hockey League
Team: Windsor Spitfires/Devils
Status at time of incident: Active
Victim-Offender Relationship: Strangers
Number of Victims: 2
Type of Violence: Sexual Assault
Summary: Johnson was accused of raping and sexually assaulting two separate women in the bathroom of two separate night clubs, about 3 weeks apart from each other. He was 18 at the time, and one of the victims was 16
Organization Response: Contract terminated after Johnson was found guilty
Charges: Y
Summary of Charges: 2 counts of sexual assault
Date charges filed: 2013
Date of court's decision/Case outcome: 2016
Outcome: Found guilty of sexually assaulting the 16-year-old victim, not sure about the other victim. He was also ordered to pay a $250 fine into a fund that aids crime victims, provide a DNA sample to the Canadian government, and register as a sex offender
Sources/Links:
https://www.si.com/hockey/news/prospect-ben-johnson-found-guilty-of-sexual-assault-contract-terminated-by-devils

Ben Coates
Ben Coates
×Football
Athlete
Year: 1998
Date of Assault: 7/26/1998
Organization: NFL
Team: New England Patriots
Status at time of incident: Active
Victim-Offender Relationship: Girlfriend
Number of Victims: 1
Type of Violence: IPV
Summary: Jennifer Marshall, his girlfriend and the mother of his child alleged that he pushed her to the pavement and banged her head against the car. Coates alleges that she is the one who instigated the violence and that he called 911 to have her removed from the property.
Organization Response: Kraft denied comment
Charges: Y
Summary of Charges: domestic assault & battery
Date charges filed: July 7, 1998
Date of court's decision/Case outcome: N/A
Outcome: charges were dropped; dismissed; He was released on $1000 bail and charges were later dropped. He was also put under a "no abuse" order
Sources/Links:
https://apnews.com/article/31ec03a81d0927b5200d810c5f09a1f5; https://www.capecodtimes.com/story/news/1998/07/07/patriots-star-ben-coates-charged/51047459007/

Armando Benitez
Armando Benitez
×Baseball
Athlete
Year: 2000
Date of Assault: 10/18/2000
Organization: MLB
Team: NY Mets
Status at time of incident: Active
Victim-Offender Relationship: Girlfriend
Number of Victims: 1
Type of Violence: IPV
Summary: His former fiance accused him of domestic violence, he faced 3rd degree misdemeanor charges based on an incident that took place in an apartment they shared in Baltimore. She alleged that he punched and scratched her (Oct 18) A month later she made a similar allegation (Nov 9)
Organization Response: 'I was hopeful based upon what we were being told that it would be resolved in a positive fashion all along,'' Mets General Manager Steve Phillips said.
Charges: Y
Summary of Charges: charges dropped
Date charges filed: October 18 and November 9, 2000
Date of court's decision/Case outcome: 2/16/2001
Outcome: charges were dropped; dismissed
Sources/Links:
https://www.nytimes.com/2001/02/16/sports/baseball-mets-benitez-no-longer-faces-charge.html

Adam “Pacman” Jones
Adam “Pacman” Jones
×Football
Athlete
Year: 2013
Date of Assault: 2013
Organization: NFL
Team: Cincinnati Bengals
Status at time of incident: Active
Victim-Offender Relationship: Stranger
Number of Victims: 1
Type of Violence: Assault
Summary: A woman threw a bottle at Jones in a club, and he retaliated by slapping her in the face
Organization Response: No response found
Charges: Y
Summary of Charges: one count of assault
Date charges filed: June 2013
Date of court's decision/Case outcome: October 2013
Outcome: Acquitted
Sources/Links:
https://www.cincyjungle.com/2013/10/9/4817956/adam-jones-bengals-assault-trial; https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/06/10/adam-jones-to-be-charged-after-thursday-incident-at-bar/; https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/10/08/adam-jones-found-not-guilty-on-assault-charges/
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Measuring Violence Podcast: Sports and Gender-based Violence
The University of Delaware's Center for the Study and Prevention of Gender-Based Violence presents Measuring Violence a twice monthly podcast connecting researchers and practitioners to a general audience.
Disclaimer:
The Center for the Study and Prevention of Gender-based Violence maintains the Gender-Based Violence in Sports Database to enhance access to information on occurrences and outcomes of gender-based violence in professional and collegiate athletics. The information included in Gender-Based Violence in Sports Database is only intended to provide a general summary of these occurrences that we obtain from publicly available sources such as newspaper accounts. We continually update the information in Gender-Based Violence in Sports Database and make every effort to keep the information current and to correct errors that are brought to our attention. While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the information, we make no warranties, expressed or implied, regarding errors or omissions and assume no legal liability or responsibility for loss or damage resulting from the use of information contained within Gender-Based Violence in Sports Database.
Suggested citation: Gender-Based Violence in Sports Database, Center for the Study & Prevention of Gender-Based Violence, University of Delaware.
Database last updated: July 18, 2023