Former Pittsburgh Soccer Standout Surrenders In New Year's Eve Rape Case
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PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - A former Pittsburgh high school soccer star has turned himself in to police in connection with an alleged rape on New Year's Eve.
Less than 24 hours after Pittsburgh Police issued a warrant for his arrest, 19-year-old Ibrahima Kouyate surrendered to authorities Wednesday evening, accompanied by his attorney, Blaine Jones.
Kouyate, originally from Guinea, in West Africa, now lives in Terrance Village. He is facing charges in connection with an alleged rape in Pittsburgh nine months ago.
In a criminal complaint, police said that the alleged victim said she had met Kouyate previously.
On the night of the alleged incident, New Year's Eve, she was invited to attend a party at a hotel on Baum Boulevard.
At one point, she claimed she was directed to a bedroom by Kouyate, and he closed the door so her friends couldn't enter.
She said she was forced to have sex with him, against her will and without her consent, investigators said.
Jones said his client vehemently denies the charges.
"We'll go through our client's cell phone records, and attack the case," the defense attorney said, "This is a good guy; he did not do anything at all about what's been alleged."
Kouyate attended the Barack Obama Academy of International Studies in East Liberty, where he was a four-year letter winner in soccer. He then went to Penn State, where he played in six matches during his freshman year. He did not play last year.
Jones told KDKA-TV's Ralph Iannotti, "He's never been in trouble before. He's an All-American soccer player at Penn State. He takes it seriously and he loves the school, he loves his teammates."
Kouyate is charged with first-degree felony counts of rape and involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, along with a second-degree felony count of sexual assault.