LOGAN — A 26-year-old former Utah State football player, Lamar A. Dawson has accepted a plea agreement and will plead guilty of sexually abusing a woman in Logan three years ago. The agreement came days before the case was scheduled to go to trial.
Dawson Participated in a virtual hearing in 1st District Court Wednesday afternoon. He was previously charged with rape, a first-degree felony.
Defense attorney Shannon Demler told the court his client had just accepted the plea deal, agreeing to plead guilty to an amended charge of forcible sexual abuse, a second-degree felony. The charge carries a maximum sentence of up to 15 years in prison.
In 2019, the victim told Logan City Police officers that Dawson had sexually assaulted her on the evening of Februry 14, after he had went to her residence to return a speaker. The two had previously met on a social media app and had a friendship for several months.
When detectives spoke with Dawson, he first denied but later admitted to having sex. He said he lied about it previously because he was afraid the victim was trying to “pin” something on him.
During Wednesday’s hearing, Heidi Nestel, an attorney representing the victim said her client was in favor of the plea deal.
Demler said he still hadn’t completed all of the paperwork and asked to return to court Monday to finalize the agreement. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled at that time.
Dawson didn’t speak during the 10 minute hearing. He was a member of the 2018 USU football team as a redshirt sophomore. He left the team shortly after being arrested and returned to his home in Chicago, Illinois.
will@cvradio.com