Alabama Walk-On Indicted For Sodomy, Removed From Team
Alabama Crimson Tide freshman football player Antonio Ross has been arrested and indicted on sexual assault charges.
Ross, 19, a preferred walk-on from Alexandria High School, was arrested at his home in Weaver on Monday and booked in the Calhoun County Jail. He was released from custody the same afternoon on a $50,000 bond according to Carol Robinson of AL.com.
The 6-2, 180-pound defensive back was originally listed on the roster as "Tonio Ross" but his page on rolltide.com has since been removed, indicating he's no longer with the program.
"Tonio Ross is no longer part of the program and has been removed from campus," UA Athletics said in a statement.
According to reports, the case was originally investigated by the Anniston Police department but the case was passed onto the Weaver Police department after interviews indicated the alleged crime occurred in the jurisdiction of Weaver.
Weaver police Lt. Andy Hunter told Robinson that the juvenile female victim was interviewed at the Calhoun County Children's Advocacy Center.
“The investigation led to a decision to forward the case to a Calhoun County Grand Jury, which took place during the week of August 28th, 2023," said Hunter to Robinson.
The state of Alabama defines second degree sodomy as the following:
"A person commits the crime of sodomy in the second degree if he/she, being 16 years or older, engages in deviate sexual intercourse with another person who is less than 16 and more than 12 years old."
Ross received scholarship offers from UAB, Tulane, Jackson State and Memphis but ultimately decided to take a preferred walk-on role with the Crimson Tide. He did not appear in either of Alabama's first two games this year.
This story will continue to be updated as more details are made known.
