Wisconsin receiver seeks dismissal of sexual assault count

MADISON, WIS. » Wisconsin receiver Quintez Cephus made his first court appearance Thursday on charges alleging that he sexually assaulted two drunken women this spring, a day after his attorneys asked the judge to dismiss one of the counts because they say the women weren’t as impaired as investigators allege.

Prosecutors charged Cephus on Monday with second- and third-degree sexual assault, which are both felonies. The second-degree charge carries a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison. According to a criminal complaint, Cephus sexually assaulted two drunken women at once in the bedroom of his apartment in April.

Cephus has denied any wrongdoing. The 6-foot-1 junior stood mute during his court appearance as Court Commissioner Brian Asmus set a $5,000 signature bond and scheduled a preliminary hearing for Sept. 6. The proceeding lasted less than five minutes.

One of Cephus’ attorneys, Kathleen Stilling, told reporters outside of court that he is innocent.

“A criminal complaint, and this criminal complaint, is a slanted, one-sided version of the events,” she said. “We look forward to getting out all of the facts and clearing Quintez’s name.”

Ash addresses players charged with fraud

PISCATAWAY, N.J. » As Rutgers preseason practice nears its end, the two biggest story lines of summer appear to have reached their conclusion.

A day after eight current or former Rutgers players had been charged in an alleged credit card scheme, Rutgers coach Chris Ash addressed the charges. And then said he would announce his starting quarterback vs. Texas State on Friday.

Junior linebacker Malik Dixon, senior defensive back Kobe Marfo, sophomore defensive end C.J. Onyechi, redshirt freshman cornerback Edwin Lopez, redshirt freshman defensive back Naijee Jones and redshirt freshman linebacker Syhiem Simmons were not with the team to start training camp. Sophomore linebacker Brendan DeVera and junior defensive back K.J. Gray were dismissed earlier in the summer for violations of team rules. Simmons and Lopez have left the program.

“Regarding the other players, we have not made and will not make a decision on their status until this thing is resolved,” Ash said.