UW football player accused of raping two women pleads not guilty

Content warning: This story discusses allegations of violent sexual assaults. Some details may be upsetting or inappropriate for some readers.

University of Washington running back Tylin Rogers pleaded not guilty Thursday morning to one count of rape in the second degree and one count of rape in third degree.

Rogers, 18, allegedly forced himself on two women last fall. He was arrested earlier this month and has been suspended from all Huskies football team activities until further notice.

RELATED: King County prosecutors 'rush filed' charges against UW football player accused of two rapes

Since Rogers was charged by the King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office, KUOW has reviewed dozens of pages of records on the case from the Seattle Police Department, including several text messages from UW coaching staff referencing Rogers around the time one of the women he allegedly attacked filed a complaint with the university's Title IX Office.

What's clear from the SPD report is that one of the woman filed her complaint with the Title IX Office on Nov. 28, 2023, and Rogers was removed from the travel roster for the Pac-12 championship game played on Dec. 1. According to SPD's records, a reason for his suspension was not put in writing. Rather, it appears written inquiries about Rogers were followed up with phone calls or in-person meetings, according to SPD.

Consider this text to former UW head football coach Kalen DeBoer from Director of Football Player Development Cameron Elisara on Dec. 6, 2023: "Just got this message from Reffett: WTF did Tybo do? I got people blowing me up about it. I won't say anything if you don't want me to obviously but I was just on EPSN (sic) radio and somebody brought it up."

A screenshot of this exchange shows DeBoer called Elisara over FaceTime rather than replying in a text.

(Reffett may refer to UW alum Jordan Reffett, whose X/Twitter bio refers to him as a college football TV and radio analyst.)

In another exchange on Dec. 6 with an unnamed coach, someone identified as Leon Neal asks the coach to pass along contact information for a criminal defense attorney: "Hey coach if you have a chance can you pass this information on to tybo (sic)"

(Leon Neal may refer to a former UW running back.)

And on Dec. 11, Rogers' father Harvey texted an unnamed coach: "Hey coach how you doing? Checking in to see what's going on with Tybo." The coach responded, "I will give you a call when I get to the airport sir."

Given those exchanges and the evidence collected in SPD's investigation, Detective Emily Akiyama wrote in her report that she believed "there is a connection between his [Roger's] suspension and [the victim's] disclosure of the assault."

Rogers' attorney, Robert Flennaugh II — who was not the attorney Leon Neal referenced in his text to one of the coaches — previously told KUOW Rogers is innocent and "plans to fight every inch of these false claims."

According to SPD's investigation report, Rogers also denied the accusations against him and "became very upset and started crying and asked if he was off the team" when he was arrested on April 5. The report goes on: "Rogers then went on to say, 'It was a couple of months ago, I got accused. I got accused of rape. But she's never come out and said anything else. And I don't know what the f**k this is.'"

The report does not make it clear which woman Rogers was referring to. In addition to filing a complaint with UW's Title IX Office, one of the women also posted about her alleged rape on Reddit, naming Rogers.

"This was clear he has done this before," she wrote. "He waited for a perfect moment, used force and coercion, and would not take no for an answer, no matter how many times I said it."

Both women accusing Rogers of rape described similar experiences, but the charges he faces now differ under state law. Rogers was charged with one count of rape in the second degree, which usually applies to cases of forced compulsion or when the victim is physically helpless or mentally incapacitated, according to SPD. He was also charged with rape in the third degree, which often applies to a "date rape" in which the victim did not consent to sexual intercourse and "lack of consent was clearly expressed by the victim's words or conduct."

As details of the allegations have come to light, UW released a second statement about Rogers, calling the allegations against him "serious and disturbing."

"The criminal complaint released on April 9 by the prosecutor’s office contained information new to the University, and we immediately took additional appropriate actions to address safety concerns," the statement said. "Had the university had this new information earlier, including in the fall or winter, we would have done the same at that time."

Still, UW officials maintain all "personnel, including all Athletics personnel, have acted and are acting in accordance with applicable laws, policies and trauma-informed practices based on available information."

UW’s student-athlete handbook says athletes, coaches, and staff "have a duty to report immediately any known or suspected violations of the Student-Athlete Code of Conduct to the Director of Athletics or the appropriate sport administrator."

The handbook goes on: "Possible sanctions by the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics include but are not limited to: warnings, reprimands, mandatory counseling, community service, probation, suspension from team activities, dismissal from the team, and revocation/reduction/non-renewal of athletically-related financial aid or other athletics related benefits (subject to NCAA rules and institutional policy). ... When a student-athlete is under investigation for a violation of the University’s Student Conduct Code and/or for criminal conduct (has been arrested, or charged with a violation of criminal law), ICA may also respond by placing the student-athlete on administrative suspension from all team activities pending further investigation or until additional information is provided to ICA. Any request to lift the administrative suspension must be submitted and approved by the Director of Athletics."

The handbook also specifically addresses grievances that involve sexual misconduct: "Because of the potential severity and sensitivity of situations regarding sexual misconduct, criminal activity, or when there is a concern for physical safety, these situations should not be resolved directly or solely by Athletic Department staff."