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Tennessee WR Von Pearson named as suspect in rape, suspended

By Danny Jaillet

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Tennessee wide receiver Von Pearson has been suspended from all team activities after he was named as a suspect in a rape investigation.

Von Pearson has been named as a suspect in an alleged rape that occurred at 6 a.m. Friday morning in the University Walk Apartments, per a report from the Knoxville News Sentinel and is suspended from all team activities.

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As stated in the KPD incident report, the occurrence allegedly took place between 3-4 a.m. in the University Walk Apartments. Pearson was identified as the attacker by the victim, a 19-year-old Tennessee student, but no criminal charges have been filed at this time, per the Deputy Chief of Police Gary Holliday.

In the initial investigation conducted by KPD investigators, several witnesses gave statements. Totaling five men and a woman in all, two of the men listed were Tennessee football players, receiver Alton “Pig” Howard and defensive end Dimarya Mixon.

Following two years at Feather River College in California, Pearson, joined the program in 2014 as one of the top junior college recruits in the nation.

He made an immediate impact for the Vols last season, ranking second on the team in receiving yards with 393 on 38 receptions and led the team with five touchdowns. Pearson was expected to be one of the team’s starting receivers this year.

This is the second incident of sexual assault to hit the Tennessee program since November when A.J. Johnson and Michael Williams. The two were indicted on two counts of aggravated rape in February and issued innocent pleas for their trial that begins on Aug. 24.

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