Former USU football player admits to sexually assaulting female student in campus dorm

Booking photo for Ismael "Izzy" Kalani Vaifo'ou (Courtesy: Cache County Jail)

LOGAN — A 23-year-old former Utah State football player has pleaded guilty to entering several on-campus dorm rooms and sexually assaulting a female student a year ago. Ismael “Izzy” Kalani Vaifo’ou has accepted a plea deal that could send him to prison.

Vaifo’ou participated in a virtual hearing Monday afternoon in 1st District Court, appearing by web conference. He pleaded guilty to two counts of forcible sex abuse and one count of burglary, all second-degree felonies.

As part of the plea agreement, prosecutors stipulated to drop five remaining charges.

On April 18, 2021, USU Police officers were called to the Living Learning Center dorms on report that Vaifo’ou had entered several bedrooms. He was a resident in the dormitory and reportedly intoxicated.

A woman told officers, she woke up and found Vaifo’ou laying in her bed next to her in only his underwear. He was groping and molesting her, until she pushed him and told him to get out.

Another woman said she was woken up by the sounds of doors opening and closing. Vaifo’ou then entered her room and started walking toward her bed, before she told him to leave.

Other residents told police they witnessed Vaifo’ou entering two other rooms temporarily. They also said they could detect an odor of alcohol coming from the defendant.

When police questioned Vaifo’ou, he admitted to entering the women’s room, stating he had taken off his clothes and got into bed with one of the victims. He also confessed to touching the woman inappropriately over her clothing.

During Monday’s hearing, Judge Angela Fonnesbeck accepted attorney’s plea deal. She scheduled sentencing for Aug. 30.

Vaifo’ou is currently out of jail on pretrial supervision and could face up to 15 years in prison. He was released from the Aggie football team and banned from campus at the time of being arrested.


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1 Comment

  • Gestas June 17, 2022 at 10:26 am Reply

    One stupid night a lifetime of regret. Wow!

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