Woman says Art Briles was aware of assault allegations against Baylor RB
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A former Baylor student who has accused ex-Baylor running back Devin Chafin of assault says that former head coach Art Briles and other members of the coaching staff were aware of the allegations.
Chafin was named in a May 19 report by ESPN’s Outside the Lines for allegedly assaulting a woman on multiple occasions. The woman has since identified herself as Dolores Lozano, a Baylor graduate, according to reporter Joe Schad.
Lozano accuses Chafin of assaulting her three times. From Schad’s report:
According to a statement of facts prepared by Lozano's attorneys, Chafin "slapped," "kicked," "slammed Lozano against the wall," and "choked Lozano until she lost feeling in her body," in March of 2014.
• Baylor will not release a full Pepper Hamilton report
Schad reported Tuesday that Chafin says he grabbed Lozano, but didn’t choke or kick her. He added that he never discussed the situation with Briles, but that he talked about it with assistant coach Jeff Lebby, who is still with the team. Lebby is Briles’s son-in-law.
"The story has been falsely constructed,” Chafin said. “No one knows the entire story. This girl is not who she claims to be.” He also claimed that the was never interviewed by Waco police.
Lozano says she exchanged text messages about the alleged assault with Chafin’s position coach, passing game coordinator and running backs coach Jeff Lebby. She also says Chafin told her Briles was made aware of the allegations.
Baylor released the following statement in regard to the report:
Because of the complex nature of dating and domestic violence, even when complainants report abuse to the police, their school and others, complainants may be reluctant to move forward with a campus or criminal investigation. In developing informed and sensitive responses, we must be open to understanding the unique dynamics of dating and domestic violence, including individual barriers and safety considerations, and to supporting our students as they evaluate their options. Further, we are actively taking steps to ensure all of our students understand and trust the full range of resources available to them.
Lozano did not press charges and Chafin was not disciplined by the team. He had 585 yards on 121 carries as Baylor’s third option at running back last season.
Chafin was recently dismissed from the team after being arrested for marijuana possession. He told Schad he believes his dismissal actually stemmed from Lozano’s accusations.
