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USF football player arrested for sexual battery after on campus incident

Police: Player admitted to the crime
USF football player arrested for sexual battery
USF football player arrested for sexual battery
Posted at 3:52 PM, Nov 17, 2017
and last updated 2017-11-17 21:04:08-05

A football player at the University of South Florida was arrested for sexual battery after an on campus incident.

18-year-old Kevaughn Dingle was arrested on Friday.  Police say the sexual battery happened in the Holly C Residence Hall around noon on Thursday.

Police said around 1 a.m. Friday the alleged victim reported the crime to them.

"She said he committed acts against her will, we investigated, we took evidence and he admitted to it," Captain Meg Ross with USF Police said. 

Ross said he was acquaintances with the victim, and it was not random.

Students at USF said crimes like this have to stop, not only on their campus but on every campus across the country.

"Sadly it’s a normal thing that’s starting to happen a lot and you have to learn how to protect yourself. There is a class you can take here that police teach and it’s self defense for women," Alayna Wiezorek, a freshman at USF said. "I think it is showing how people are abusing their power.  And how, if you are in a place of power, someone would be too scared to speak up."

Police said the victim came forward 13 hours later.

ABC Action News asked the USF Athletic Department to comment on Dingle's status with the university. They sent us a text stating "we do not have a statement at this time."

Dingle is charged with one count of sexual battery and was transported to Hillsborough County central booking facilities.