Former players face rape charges

NASHVILLE — Four former Vanderbilt football players have been indicted on five counts of aggravated rape each of an unconscious 21-year-old student at a campus dormitory in June.

Nashville Police Chief Steve Anderson credited Friday’s indictment to the painstaking work of detectives from the sex crimes unit and an electronics expert from the department.

Nashville detectives travelled to Palm Desert, Calif., for several days in late July working with the Riverside Co. Sheriff’s Office in California to collect evidence.

“Their investigation has uncovered compelling, unsettling evidence that was presented to the Davidson County Grand Jury earlier today,” Anderson said in a statement.

Safety Cory Batey, 19 of Nashville, Tenn.; defensive back Brandon Banks, 19, of Brandywine, Md.; receiver Jaborian ‘Tip’ McKenzie, 19, of Woodville, Miss.; and tight end Brandon Vandenburg, 20, of Indio, Calif. also have been charged with two counts of aggravated sexual battery for an incident tipped to campus officials by surveillance video.

Vandenburg also is charged with one count of tampering with evidence and one count of unlawful photography.

Vanderbilt dismissed the players June 29 and kicked them off campus pending the investigation.

According to Nashville police, the four men are charged with raping the unconscious woman inside Vandenburg’s room on June 23. The investigation is continuing.