Former MSU football player Auston Robertson arraigned on sex assault charge

Auston Robertson arraigned in Meridian Township

MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP, Mich. – Former Michigan State University football player Auston Robertson was arraigned Tuesday on sexual assault charges in Meridian Township.

Robertson appeared in court Tuesday after being charged with sexual assault last week.

He was with relatives in Fort Wayne when a police task force took him into custody. He waived extradition and was in an Ingham County courtroom Tuesday afternoon.

The 19-year-old is charged with third-degree criminal sexual conduct. Prosecutors said he raped a woman on April 8 after walking her to an apartment. They said he forced himself on her despite her repeatedly telling him no.

Robertson is currently being held on $250,000 bail.

High school incident

Robertson was also arrested in 2016 and charged with misdemeanor assault after he touched a juvenile woman without permission at Wayne High School in Fort Wayne, Indiana, officials confirm. He was 18 years old at the time.

Robertson successfully completed a pretrial diversion program and stayed out of trouble for a year, so the assault charge was dismissed on March 22 without a conviction.

Three MSU players under investigation

The arrest has nothing to do with the sexual assault case that resulted in the suspension of three MSU football players.

Those players are under investigation for the alleged rape of a coed on campus. The players have been suspended from the team, and a staffer is on paid leave for an investigation into how the case has been handled.

The Ingham County Prosecutor's Office said the criminal investigation is complete. The prosecutors have received all extra evidentiary materials they asked for, and they're in the process of making a charging decision.

Officials said the alleged rape happened on campus in January. The student who said she was sexually assaulted reported what happened, and the university has two investigations ongoing.

One investigation involves what happened, and the other involves the football team's compliance with university policy.

Local 4 is not naming the three players facing rape accusations because they haven't been charged. Two of the players are from Detroit, and the other is from out of state.

All three players have been removed from university housing and suspended from the team, but they are still allowed to attend classes and their scholarships are still in place.

Curtis Blackwell, the team's director of college advancement and performance, has been placed on paid leave.

Sources told Local 4 a charging decision will be made shortly by the Ingham County Prosecutor's Office.

Stay with ClickOnDetroit.com for updates.


About the Authors:

Derick is the Lead Digital Editor for ClickOnDetroit and has been with Local 4 News since April 2013. Derick specializes in breaking news, crime and local sports.