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Special thanks to StPetersburgHoya for putting together the below timeline of events leading up to the departures of James Akinjo and Josh LeBlanc from the Georgetown men’s basketball program.
Here’s what we know:
- September 16, 2019 – incident alleged involving LeBlanc and other basketball players that generates at least two police reports to Metro and reports to DOPS
This incident report said, "complainant reported the suspect showing her his erect clothed penis." pic.twitter.com/bEznIrlzrM
— Laura Wagner (@laurawags) December 3, 2019
- November 5, 2019 – civil lawsuit is filed by female students against LeBlanc and Galen Alexander. A motion for a temporary restraining order is filed the same day.
- November 5, 2019 – A DOPS Officer serves the complaints and TRO motions on LeBlanc and Alexander.
- November 6, 2019 – Opening game against Mount St. Mary’s. LeBlanc does not play. Alexander does, but does not start. Team has to come back from being down double digits to win.
- November 12, 2019 – Second civil lawsuit and motion for TRO is filed, naming LeBlanc, Alexander, and Myron Gardner as defendants.
- November 14, 2019, 10:15am – Hearing is held on the temporary restraining order in the case against LeBlanc and Alexander. LeBlanc and Alexander do not show up to the hearing. The plaintiff testified under oath and the TRO is granted. Among other things, LeBlanc and Alexander are ordered not to “assault,” “threaten,” “harass,” or “physically abuse” the plaintiff. The hearing for Gardner is on December 9th.
- November 14, 2019, 6:30pm – Georgetown takes the floor to play against Penn State. LeBlanc and Alexander both dress for the game. LeBlanc plays 20 minutes off the bench; Alexander plays 17. Georgetown loses by 15.
- November 15, 2019 – A copy of the TRO is served by a DOPS Officer on LeBlanc and Alexander.
- November 20, 2019, 2:30pm – The Court holds a hearing on whether to issue a preliminary injunction (a longer lasting form of a TRO) against LeBlanc and Alexander. LeBlanc and Alexander do not show up to the hearing. The plaintiff again testified under oath. The preliminary injunction is granted. The Court concludes that the plaintiff is “likely to suffer irreparable harm in the absence of injunctive relief” and the “[t]here is a substantial likelihood Plaintiff will prevail on the merits.” LeBlanc and Alexander are ordered to stay 50 feet away from the plaintiff. They are also ordered not to “assault, threaten, harass, or communicate with” the Plaintiff.
Preliminary Injunction Order filed on November 20th, 2019 against Georgetown's Josh LeBlanc and Galen Alexander. pic.twitter.com/ifRyvKyUbu
— Casual Hoya (@CasualHoya) December 3, 2019
- November 21, 2019 – LeBlanc and Alexander both play in Georgetown’s win over Texas.
- December 2, 2019 – Georgetown issues a press release (not to all media outlets that typically cover the team) stating that “James Akinjo and Josh LeBlanc will not be playing for the men’s basketball team effective immediately.” News accounts confirm that they have placed their names in the transfer portal. Georgetown then issues statement (again, not to all media outlets that typically cover the team) regarding its Code of Student Conduct.
Georgetown statement on potential legal issues involving players on the basketball team: pic.twitter.com/JCbBg16y0n
— Jeff Borzello (@jeffborzello) December 3, 2019
I think that’s where we are right now.
The Hoyas are set to play at Oklahoma State tomorrow night.
Feel free to comment accordingly.
UPDATE: Athletic director Lee Reed issued a statement at 2:30 on December 3, 2019:
Dear Hoya Basketball Supporter,
Many of you have been following recent news regarding our Men’s Basketball Team. Yesterday, we announced that two students, James Akinjo and Josh LeBlanc, will not be members of the team for the remainder of the season as they have expressed an interest in transferring from the University. Separately, allegations were reported publicly against three members of the team. The allegations do not involve James Akinjo.
While Georgetown refrains from commenting on individual students in accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), we take student conduct issues very seriously. Alleged conduct violations are investigated and adjudicated by the Office of Student Conduct through a fair and equitable process. Both the complainant and the accused student are given the opportunity to provide written and oral statements along with any relevant evidence before disciplinary actions are taken. Student-athletes are subject to the same disciplinary policies and procedures contained in the Code of Conduct that apply to any undergraduate or graduate student.
Once the student conduct process is completed, and if sanctions are imposed by the Office of Student Conduct, coaches may impose additional disciplinary actions, including removal from the team. When students report concerns for their safety, the University takes immediate action and offers a range of options and supportive resources for students, which may include putting in place no contact orders between members of the campus community, filing a complaint with the University or the Georgetown University Police Department (GUPD), safety planning with GUPD, police escorts for students, counseling and other support services - all to ensure complainants are safe on campus. If the University determines that a student poses an immediate threat to the safety or security of students or of the community, the University would take immediate action to remove the student from campus.
Please know that we are deeply committed to the integrity of our athletics program. All student athletes are required to complete a four-tiered education model on interpersonal violence and sexual assault. Coach Ewing has taken additional steps to ensure a culture of responsibility and integrity within our Men’s Basketball Team.
We seek to develop the talents, character and leadership qualities of all student-athletes and members of our community. We aspire for our student-athletes to exemplify the excellence and integrity of the Georgetown community and will continue to work to achieve this mission.
Sincerely,
Lee Reed
Director of Intercollegiate Athletics