Wisconsin Football Player Settles Civil Suit, Pleads Guilty to Sexual Assault

Wisconsin football starting safety Kamo’i Latu and former high school teammate Jayden de Laura, now a quarterback at Arizona, settled a civil lawsuit this past week, according to a report from HawaiiNewsNow.

The civil lawsuit stems from a sexual assault case, handled in juvenile court, that allegedly occurred after the St. Louis High School football team defeated Punahou to win a Hawaii state championship. The victim, in this case, alleges that the two players raped her and, according to documents obtained by HawaiiNewsNow, says the players “physically overpowered her.”

As a result, both Latu and de Laura pleaded guilty to sexual assault 2, and neither received any jail time pursuant to their guilty pleas. Instead, each player was required to write letters of apology to the victim.

After a quick look at a Hawaii state statutes book, second-degree sexual assault is described as when a person knowingly subjects another person to an act of sexual penetration by compulsion.

HawaiiNewsNow also reported that Latu and de Laura agreed to pay the victim, although the amount is confidential as part of a privacy agreement.

The University of Wisconsin Football Program Comments on Kamo’i Latu News 

Wisconsin Badgers safety Kamo’i Latu smiles as he answers questions from the media as part of Wisconsin Badgers men’s football media day at the McClain Center in Madison on Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2022. Photo by Mike De Sisti / The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Mjs Badgers Media Day 0845 113063398

“At the time of Wisconsin football student-athlete Kamo’i Latu’s initial enrollment at UW-Madison, the matter being reported involving Latu was not known to UW Athletics officials. As described, the matter relates to Latu when he was a minor, and the juvenile records are sealed. Last fall, UW-Madison officials became aware of the civil suit filed in the matter.

“Based on the information available to the UW-Madison Office of Legal Affairs and UW Athletics officials, the matter being reported that involved Latu prior to his time as a college student does not violate the UW Athletics Student-Athlete Discipline Policy, university misconduct policies, or reporting or disclosure requirements. Latu remains a member of the Wisconsin football team.”

Kamo’i Latu spent two seasons at Utah before transferring to the Wisconsin football program last year. He appeared in 13 games last season, starting 12, and registered 55 tackles, three TFLs, and three pass deflections, with two sacks and two interceptions.

Contact/Follow us @Badger_Notes on Twitter, Subscribe to the BadgerNotes Newsletter here, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes, opinion, and analysis. 

Use promo code: BadgerNotes for 25% off your next True Classic order.

Join the Badger Notes watch party and stream Wisconsin Badgers games by following this link.

*Subscribe to Locked on Badgers on Youtube and wherever you find podcasts, the only daily Wisconsin Badgers podcast on the internet.