GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — A man who once played basketball at a West Michigan university is going to trial over an alleged sexual assault.
Jakhary Towns, 20, from Wyoming, was a guard at Davenport University. He announced he was transferring to Bryant & Stratton College in Wisconsin in May 2024.
Towns is charged with criminal sexual conduct in the third degree, which involves force and coercion for sexual acts. If convicted, he could face up to 15 years behind bars.
It stems from an incident on January 15, 2024, court documents say. Towns picked up the alleged victim at her home and drove her to his house.
The victim told Towns she did not want to have sex and asked him to drive her home. He told her she had to pay him $500 or have intercourse with him, documents said.
There was a blizzard outside and the woman had no way of getting home. She paid him some money, but it "was not enough," officials report. Towns again told her she must have intercourse with him or not get a ride home.
The woman says she felt she had no choice.
Towns waived the preliminary exam in Wyoming on August 7. He'll be back in court on October 29 at 1 p.m.
