LOGAN — A 23-year-old former Utah State football player has pleaded guilty to sexually abusing a woman more than four years ago. Jamaal Anthony Evans accepted a plea deal and was immediately taken into custody to begin serving a jail sentence.
Evans appeared for a change of plea hearing Wednesday morning in 1st District Court. He pleaded guilty to an amended charge of forcible sexual abuse, a second-degree felony.
Defense attorney Shannon Demler explained how prosecutors decided to drop charges of rape and forcible sodomy, in exchange for Evans guilty plea. They also agreed to recommend a sentence of six months in jail instead of any prison time.
Evans was arrested in June 2018 after a female USU student reported being raped to school officials. She explained how she went to a small party at a residence in Logan and met the defendant.
The woman told investigators while at the party they consumed some alcohol. Afterwards, Evans raped her, although she can’t remember what specifically happened.
The case was delayed previously because of the month long jury trial in January 2019 for Torrey Green, another former USU football player convicted of sexually assaulting six women. Later trials were postponed due to the cornavirus pandemic that limited in-person hearings.
During Wednesday’s hearing, Cache County Deputy Attorney Griffin Hazard said he had met with the victim, who approved of the plea deal. He said the evidence showed how Evans had taken indecent liberties with the woman.
Judge Brian Cannell scheduled a sentencing hearing for Nov. 16, but ordered Evans to be transferred to the Cache County Jail immediately to begin incarceration. He expressed appreciation for the defendant “owning up to the crime,” noting how it had been some time since it occurred.
Evans was signed by USU in 2016. He was suspended after his arrest and never played for the team again. He is originally from Las Vegas where he was a first team, all-state quarterback.
…imagine that…another rapist that plays football at utah state……