CONWAY, SC (WBTW) – A Coastal Carolina football player has been arrested for the sexual assault of an 18-year-old female, and is accused of assaulting another woman during the same incident, but has not been charged in that accusation.
According to a press release from Conway City Police, Ray Anthony Lewis III, 20, turned himself into police Friday morning and was charged with criminal sexual conduct, 3rd degree.
The arrest comes after two women, 18 and 19-years-old, were treated at a local hospital on January 23rd for sexual assault. The incident is reported to have happened across from CCU’s campus at an apartment on Technology Boulevard.
According to arrest warrant, Lewis sexually assaulted the 18-year-old while she was under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Charges have not been filed in the accusation made by the second woman, who claims to have been sexually assaulted by Lewis during the same time period as the first victim.
Lewis’ legal team, attorney Tommy Brittain out of Myrtle Beach, and attorney Ed Garland out of Atlanta, GA, released a statement regarding Lewis’ arrest:
In response to the charge of criminal sexual conduct, Ray Lewis III states that he is not guilty of any criminal conduct. He is not guilty because no crime was committed. The sex with the accuser was entirely consensual. At the time of the sexual encounter, the two girls involved were fully conscious of what they were doing and knowingly consented. We are confident that a thorough evaluation of the facts will show that there was no crime committed. Ray Lewis III will be represented by Tommy Brittain of the Brittain Law Firm in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina and by Ed Garland of the law firm of Garland, Samuel and Loeb in Atlanta, Georgia.
Lewis is currently listed on the Coastal Carolina University 2016 football spring roster as a cornerback. His player bio states he transferred from the University of Miami after playing for two seasons. Lewis is the son of former NFL player Ray Lewis who played for the Baltimore Ravens.
News13 has reached out to CCU concerning Lewis’ current status with the football team as well as his status as a student at the school. Associate Vice President of the Office of University Communication Martha Hunn released the below statement on behalf of the university:
Statement from Coastal Carolina University regarding the arrest of Ray Lewis III:
Once CCU became aware of an incident, the University immediately began facilitating the administrative investigation, which includes requests to Conway Police Department for the police report and other information pertaining to this case. The University obtained the arrest warrant today.
Immediately upon arrest, Ray Lewis III was suspended indefinitely from the football team. The University continues its administrative investigation process.
Lewis was booked into the J Reuben Long Detention Center at 9:56 a.m. Friday and was released within 90 minutes on a $10,000 bond, according to online booking records.
