South Carolina ladies’s basketball standout Ashlyn Watkins was arrested and charged with first-degree assault and battery and kidnapping following an incident Saturday on the varsity’s campus, in line with court docket information.
An arrest warrant for Ashlyn Watkins was issued by the College of South Carolina police
A warrant was issued by the College of South Carolina police. WLTX in Columbia reported that the incident occurred at 650 Lincoln, an on-campus scholar housing heart. Watkins and the sufferer, who was known as a minor, knew one another.
Per the arrest warrant, Watkins allegedly assaulted the person by “forcefully grabbing her face, pulling her by her arms, and pushing her.” She additionally allegedly picked up the person and carried her in opposition to her will.
I obtained the arrest warrants for @GamecockWBB star Ashlyn Watkins. Incident detailed under ⬇️ @wachfox pic.twitter.com/qX3wNwglJ1
— Claire Foley (@clairefoleytv) August 31, 2024
Watkins then “grabbed the sufferer’s head and compelled her to stroll down the corridor, thus controlling her motion whereas stopping her from leaving.” This led to an extra cost of kidnapping.
Based on WLTX, the sufferer escaped and pulled a fireplace alarm. The person was later handled for non-life-threatening accidents. Richland County judicial court docket information present that Watkins was launched on a $30,000 private recognizance bond.
Watkins’ court docket date is Oct. 25, 10 days earlier than the Gamecocks’ season-opener in Las Vegas in opposition to Michigan
Watkins was ordered to remain 1,000 ft from the alleged sufferer’s dwelling, work, college and place of worship, and haven’t any direct or oblique contact with the opposite particular person concerned within the incident.
Nevertheless, Watkins does have permission to journey out of state for video games and apply. She has a court docket look scheduled for Oct. 25. Her court docket date is 10 days earlier than the Gamecocks’ season-opener in Las Vegas in opposition to Michigan.
Watkins’ lawyer, Todd Rutherford, informed WIS Information 10 in South Carolina, “We firmly consider when all of the information come out this may merely be a misunderstanding. And she or he maintains her innocence all through this complete course of.”
In an announcement to ESPN, a South Carolina program spokesperson mentioned, “We’re conscious of the scenario and are persevering with to collect data.”
Watkins, 20, is a junior ahead from Columbia. She was a key reserve on the Gamecocks’ undefeated nationwide championship-winning squad this previous season.
Moreover, Watkins averaged 9.2 factors, 7.4 rebounds, 2.4 blocks, and 20.6 minutes per recreation. In 2022, the 6-foot-3 wing was the state’s Gatorade Participant of the 12 months as effectively.
