two ASU Players have been brought into the spotlight after accusations from witnesses of violent outbursts. (Photo Courtesy of Maricopa County Sheriff's Department)After a successful and controversy-free first year, Coach Todd Graham's Sun Devil football team is facing its first off-the-field challenges as senior defensive end Junior Onyeali and former walk-on Andres Garcia have both had run-ins with Tempe Police in the last week few weeks.
Associate athletic director of media relations Mark Brand said Garcia has been dismissed, while the team will look into Onyeali’s case.
"We are aware of the situation and have engaged campus resources to review," Brand said.
On May 19, Onyeali smashed the window of his girlfriend's car after a verbal altercation, Tempe Police Sgt. Mike Pooley said.
Pooley said Onyeali left the scene, but his girlfriend called the police, who arrived shortly after to take pictures of the damage.
"We tried to contact him, but we couldn't find him, so he was never arrested," Pooley said. "The following week, one of our detectives got a hold of him over the phone, and he said he knew what he did was wrong, and he paid for the damage."
Tempe police have submitted the case to the city prosecutor's office, Pooley said.
The prosecutor's office was not available for comment.
Pooley said Garcia was out barhopping with some friends on Mill Avenue the night of June 7.
He said after leaving the bars, Garcia and his friends, including a girl he had been seeing for the past year, went to house where Garcia and the victim got into an argument.
Garcia pulled the victim into a bedroom, and when her sister entered to see what was going on, Garcia proceeded to block either woman from leaving the room.
"He starts yelling at them, and when the victim tries to push him aside to get by, he pushes her in the chest with both hands," he said. "It must have been pretty hard, because she ended up flying back into a wall and being knocked unconscious."
Pooley said Garcia, along with the victim's sister and friends, decided to take the victim to the hospital, but changed their minds on the way to the hospital because she woke up. They instead decided to take the victim home, where Garcia helped her into her bedroom, Pooley said.
He said Garcia then convinced the woman's friends and sister that he just wanted to talk to her and work things out, so they left the two alone.
"Then he shuts and locks the door and sexually assaults her," Pooley said. "She was not in any condition to fight back, and she was not able to give consent."
He said Garcia finished sexually assaulting the victim and let her friends in the room, where they found the woman crying. Pooley said Garcia apologized and got a ride home, then went back to the apartment to apologize again and tell the victim and her friends that he was "disgusted with himself."
Garcia then called the victim's mother to express his apologies to her, after which time he left to Nogales, Pooley said.
He said Garcia returned to Tempe on Sunday, June 9, and he was taken into custody by Tempe police and charged with sexual assault and misdemeanor assault.
Onyeali has faced behavioral issues with the team in the past and was suspended for the 2011 Maaco Bowl in Las Vegas by former head coach Dennis Erickson.
When Todd Graham took over as head coach after the bowl game, Onyeali’s suspension was extended until he was reinstated weeks before the 2012 season opener.
Onyeali played all 13 games of the 2012 season, starting in five.
The former Pac-10 Defensive Freshman of the Year recorded 17 tackles (eight for loss) and six sacks last season and returned a fumble for a touchdown last year against Oregon State.
Garcia joined the team as a walk-on last season and contributed to special teams.
Reach the reporters at npmendo@asu.edu and jnacion@asu.edu or follow them on twitter @NPMendoza and @Josh_Nacion
