UI football player accused of rape makes first court appearance

University of Idaho football player Kyree Curington reportedly made multiple advances, despite repeated refusals, in an alleged on-campus rape early Friday morning, according to statements made in a probable cause affidavit.

The document, which provides police officers’ accounts, was released Monday morning after Curington’s initial appearance in Latah County 2nd District Court. He is charged with forcible rape, a felony, and has posted a $75,000 bond.

The alleged victim, a student, told police, friends and family she was sexually assaulted by Curington, 18, in her dorm room at UI’s Wallace Residence Center. She told investigating officers she said “no” multiple times and attempted to push Curington off her. She said he pushed her into a pillow and that her face was smothered by his face during the incident, which reportedly took place sometime between 3:35 and 4:15 a.m. Friday.

Police used surveillance footage to corroborate the student’s account that she opened a dormitory wing door around 3:30 a.m. to let in a male, who she’d previously agreed to let accompany her to her dorm room to sleep.

Curington denied that he’d been with the woman, but police later identified a man who appeared to be him in the footage. The man was shown leaving the alleged victim’s dorm at 4:15 a.m., about the same time she told officers she began making calls. The alleged rape was reported to Moscow police by the woman’s mother at 4:58 a.m.

The Tribune does not name alleged victims of sexual assault.

The man seen with the woman in the dorm’s surveillance footage was dressed in an identical outfit — except a beanie hat — to the one Curington wore in his interview with officers, according to the court document.

Curington, a freshman from New Orleans, said he and his roommate left Stubblefield’s, a Pullman bar and grill, around 2:30 a.m. Friday, after which they “sat in their car” until returning to their dorm between 4:45 and 5 a.m. He denied he’d met with the woman in Wallace at any point that morning.

The alleged victim said she previously knew Curington through social media, where they had met “a week and a half earlier.”

She said they encountered each other at Stubblefield’s and later had a “mutual conversation” over the app Snapchat about Curington staying in her dorm room only to sleep, about which she said she was very clear.

They reportedly shared the top bunk, while a roommate was below. Police interviewed the roommate, who said she heard the alleged victim say, “No, I don’t do that” and “I thought we were just going to sleep.” The roommate said she put in headphones upon hearing “kissing noises” and was worried about lack of consent, but “did not know what to do.”

After the man left, the roommate stated she heard a phone call being made, and later heard the woman utter “sexual assault” and “call the police” to a friend.

The alleged victim said her parents advised her to go to Gritman Medical Center, where she was met by police. A doctor who performed an examination found signs of sexual trauma, according to the affidavit.

While the woman was at the hospital, police collected evidence from her dormitory, including a condom wrapper.

Curington initially denied knowing the woman when interviewed by police, but later admitted he “didn’t really know her, but had seen her at (Stubblefield’s).”

Officers told Curington the woman had submitted to a sexual assault kit and asked him if “there would be any reason for his DNA to be on (her).” He said “there shouldn’t be,” according to the affidavit.

When an officer told him that DNA can be retrieved from saliva, Curington then said he “hugged (her) and maybe kissed her neck,” while at Stubblefield’s.

Curington’s apparent inconsistencies in interviews, coupled with his reluctance to meet in person with police and sign a search warrant, prompted officers to obtain an arrest warrant. He was booked into the Latah County jail at 2:19 p.m. Saturday, at which time police requested a search warrant for a DNA swab of Curington.

Curington, who now lives off campus, has agreed not to appear on school grounds unless with a university official, according to a news release issued Monday morning by UI President Chuck Staben. Curington has been suspended from the football team, according to a university spokesperson.

Prosecutor William Thompson said Curington’s attorney is Robyn McPherson of Coeur d’Alene, although “we were told he’s in the process of applying for a public defender.”

Curington’s next scheduled court appearance is a Jan. 10 preliminary hearing.

Clark can be contacted at cclark@lmtribune.com or (208) 848-2260. Follow him on Twitter @coltonclark95.