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BYU Quarterback Jake Retzlaff Faces Lawsuit Alleging Rape and Assault
Brigham Young University (BYU) quarterback Jake Retzlaff is facing serious allegations after being named in a lawsuit accusing him of rape, strangulation, and biting. A Utah woman, identified as Jane Doe A.G., filed the suit, claiming that Provo police were uncooperative and discouraged her from pursuing the case. The lawsuit seeks damages exceeding $300,000 for alleged emotional distress, humiliation, and mental anguish.
Lawsuit Claims Police Discouraged Pursuit of Allegations
The legal action, officially lodged in Utah on Wednesday, alleges that law enforcement officials in Provo dissuaded the woman from reporting the alleged incident. According to the lawsuit, police told her that “sexual assault victims never get justice.”
Police Department Denies Allegations of Uncooperative Behavior
In response to the claims, the Provo Police Department issued a statement refuting the accusations. “From everything we have reviewed, this is not true,” the department stated, defending its handling of the case.
Details of the Alleged Assault
Jane Doe A.G. claims the alleged assault occurred in November 2023 at Retzlaff’s residence. According to the suit:
- The two connected on social media and exchanged messages for several weeks.
- She visited his home along with a friend, where they socialized with Retzlaff’s friends and teammates.
- Later, after her friend left, she and Retzlaff watched a movie and began kissing.
- She alleges that she expressed her desire to stop, but Retzlaff allegedly escalated the situation.
- The suit states that she said ‘no’ and attempted to leave.
- She alleges Retzlaff grabbed her by the neck and raped her.
The lawsuit further claims that the experience was so severe that she lost consciousness and that upon regaining consciousness, she was in pain and struggling to breathe.
Retzlaff’s Attorney Denies the Accusations
Mark Baute, Retzlaff’s attorney, issued a statement denying the allegations. “We look forward to proving that innocence,” Baute stated. “Jake’s focus this year will be on football. We don’t try cases in the media, we will respect the process and establish Jake’s innocence through the judicial system.”
Lawsuit Alleges Delayed Disclosure and Police Response
The lawsuit states that the plaintiff did not initially disclose Retzlaff’s name to Provo police, but later identified him as the BYU quarterback. The lawsuit states,
‘At some point after speaking to the police, an officer reached out to her asking for the name because someone else filed a complaint against a football player and the police wanted to see if it was the same person,’
‘At that point Jane Doe A.G. shared Retzlaff’s name, and the Provo police then encouraged her not to do anything because, as they claimed, “sexual assault victims never get justice.”’
Background on Jake Retzlaff
Jake Retzlaff, a junior, is the first Jewish quarterback in BYU history. He has gained some notoriety for his athletic achievements and previously signed a name, image, and likeness (NIL) deal with a kosher brand. Retzlaff is rumored to be dating BYU softball player Jaelynn Lambert.