3/31/99
AUBURN UNIVERSITY FOOTBALL PLAYER CHARGED IN RAPE CASE
AUBURN -- A member of the Auburn University football team, Clifton Robinson, has been arrested and charged with second-degree rape.
Auburn City Police said Robinson, 20, of Naples, Fla., is accused of having sexual intercourse with a 15-year-old girl. Police said they were called to investigate the alleged rape at 1:30 a.m. on Wednesday, March 31.
AU President William V. Muse said he is confident that Athletics Director David Housel, head football coach Tommy Tuberville and other university administrators will take the appropriate action in the case. Tuberville has suspended Robinson indefinitely from the football team pending resolution of the charges against him.
"The crime with which this young man has been accused is a very serious one and Auburn University will deal with it in a serious manner," said Muse. "We want to assure the family of the young woman, the parents of all our students and others in the Auburn community that such behavior is not tolerated at Auburn University. Our student athletes are expected to adhere to the same standards of moral conduct as the rest of our student body."
Robinson, a junior, was initially placed in the Auburn City Jail, but was expected to be transferred to the Lee County Justice Center.
Second-degree rape under Alabama law is a class B felony. The statue states that the crime occurs when a man "engages in sexual intercourse with a female less than 16 and more than 12 years old, provided; however that the (man) is at least two years older than the female."
Punishment under a conviction for second-degree rape ranges from two to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.
mar99:AU-robinson