Three former New Mexico State basketball players have been charged with multiple sex crimes, leading to the disbandment of the team in the middle of last season. Deshawndre Washington, Kim Aiken Jr., and Doctor Bradley were indicted by a New Mexico grand jury on multiple counts of criminal sexual penetration, criminal sexual conduct, and false imprisonment. If convicted, Washington and Bradley could face up to 27 years in prison each, while Aiken could face up to 24 years. The state attorney general did not release the names of the victims.

Earlier this week, a civil lawsuit was filed against the school, athletic director Mario Moccia, former coaches, and the three players accused of assault. The lawsuit claims that the victims were sexually assaulted and threatened with guns in the New Mexico State locker room. These allegations mirror those made in a previous lawsuit settled by the school for $8 million earlier this year. The lawsuits describe a humiliating ritual in which the defendants would pull down the victims' pants and sometimes grab their genitals. These descriptions align with the findings of the school's Title IX investigation into the players.

Thursday's indictments mark the first criminal charges related to the incident, initially referred to as a hazing incident by the school. The indictments detail episodes from August to November 2022, accusing the defendants of holding younger players and student staff against their will while violating them. The alleged acts included forcefully restraining victims while violently grabbing their genital area. All three players are also charged with second-degree sexual penetration, which carries a potential sentence of up to nine years in prison. Their first court appearance is scheduled for November 22 in Dona Ana County.

Neither Washington nor Aiken found new teams after leaving New Mexico State when the season was abruptly canceled, and the team disbanded in February. Bradley had signed with Nicholls State, but according to a university spokesman, he is no longer on the team. State Attorney General Ra??l Torrez is also investigating the school's handling of the events that led to the team's cancellation. Torrez emphasized that this is an important first step in addressing the behavior, but there is still work to be done in correcting the culture that allowed these crimes to occur.

It is worth noting that no one has been charged in the death of a University of New Mexico student who was shot by Aggies forward Mike Peake. Peake was ruled to have acted in self-defense. Carrying guns on campus or on school-sponsored trips is against university policy and is a misdemeanor in New Mexico.