Ex-Louisville player Chris Jones pleads not guilty in rape case

LOUISVILLE, KY (WAVE) - Former University of Louisville men's basketball player Chris Jones has been taken into custody on charges of rape and sodomy against two women.

With his attorneys at his side, Jones pleaded not guilty Thursday morning in a courtroom at the Hall of Justice after a warrant was issued for his arrest.

[

]

Two other men also are charged in the case. Jalen D. Tilford, 21, is charged with first-degree rape and sodomy. Tyvon Julah Walker, 19, is charged with first-degree rape.

Tilford and Walker were both arrested and jailed in lieu of $100,000 and $75,000 bonds, respectively. Jones, however, was placed on home incarceration, even though his arrest warrant indicates that the investigating detective considered Jones a flight risk.

Jones's lawyers say the former basketball player has been cooperative, surrendering himself to authorities while the two other suspects did not. They say Jones does not currently have a permanent home in Louisville, and he is living in a hotel while he looks for an apartment. 

Lt. Col. Kenny Brown with the University of Louisville Police Department said Tilford and Walker are accused of forcing a woman to engage in unwanted sexual intercourse on Sunday, Feb. 22. She is one of the two women Jones is accused of raping on the same day, Brown said.

[PREVIOUS STORY: Chris Jones kicked off UofL basketball team]

University police were notified about the alleged rapes around 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, Brown said. He added that the attacks happened during a "get-together" at Cardinal Towne Apartments, a privately-owned complex affiliated with the university.

Police are reviewing video from several surveillance cameras both inside and outside the apartment complex in connection to the case, Brown said.

The attorneys for Jones declined to specify what exactly was shown on the tape but called it "highly relevant."

"We believe the video will help us with the case, all I can say," defense attorney Scott Cox said.

Jones, who was a senior guard for the Cardinals, was suspended from UofL's game at Syracuse on Feb. 18 for violating a team rule. The Cards dropped that game, but Jones was reinstated for the team's home game against Miami on Feb. 21.

The following day, UofL Athletics spokesman Kenny Klein issued a brief statement, which read, "Chris Jones has been dismissed from the University of Louisville's men's basketball team. There will be no comment on the matter."

On Monday, Feb. 23, WAVE 3 News obtained a UofL police report which stated that a female student involved in and on-and-off relationship with Jones received a text message from him stating he would "smack the (expletive) out of her."

The woman told police she had gone to Jones' apartment the previous evening, and that he left around midnight. She said she left at 3 a.m. after "messing up" the apartment. The report states Jones sent the threatening text at 2 p.m. on Feb. 17.

Late this morning, Klein issued a more detailed statement, which reads as follows:

"On Feb. 17 while at a team dinner, Coach Rick Pitino was informed of a text message sent by Chris Jones to another individual. Chris was removed from the dinner table, [and] immediately suspended from the team. After the matter was addressed within the university and Chris surrendered his cell phone, he was permitted to return to the team on Feb. 19 with strict internal disciplinary measures attached, among which included a curfew. It was discovered shortly after noon on Feb. 22 that Chris had violated a curfew and there were other accusations, without knowing specifics. At that time, Chris was immediately dismissed from the team.

"While Chris is no longer a member of our team, we understand that the allegations are very serious. While we cannot comment on this ongoing investigation, we certainly expect our student-athletes to uphold certain standards, including their treatment of others. We have great respect for the legal process and our university procedures and we will cooperate as requested with this matter."

UofL Dean of Students Michael Mardis said at a press conference that Jones was still enrolled as a UofL student as of this morning, but his attorneys say he has withdrawn from the school.

Copyright 2015 WAVE 3 News. All rights reserved.