BGSU suspends athlete accused of sex crime

School inquiry results in 2-year disciplinary action against football player

William Houston booking photo.

BOWLING GREEN — William Houston, a Bowling Green State University football player accused of attempted rape, has been suspended by the university for two years.

Mr. Houston, 19, of Dublin, Ohio, was indicted in August in Wood County Common Pleas Court, after he was accused of attempted rape on July 20.

A BGSU investigation found Houston responsible for “sexual contact without permission,” according to a university statement.

The university’s student code of conduct lists a broad range of sexual assaults under the charge of “sexual contact without permission,” from inappropriate sexual contact to rape, according to a university spokesman. Readmission conditions can be applied to students suspended from BGSU.

The NCAA Division I manual says that students suspended from an institution for disciplinary reasons must be at another institution for a calendar year before they are eligible to compete in athletics.

Bowling Green police were called to a home in the 200 block of Manville Avenue where the victim told police she’d fallen asleep and awoke when a man “tried to force himself on her.” Mr. Houston was identified by others who were also at the home as the suspect, and he was arrested in an on-campus residence hall.

A message left with Peter Halleck, listed in court records as Mr. Houston’s attorney, was not returned.

Mr. Houston is a sophomore running back. The university placed Mr. Houston on an interim suspension the day after his arrest. BGSU conducted its own investigation and held a student code of conduct hearing.

Contact Nolan Rosenkrans at: nrosenkrans@theblade.com or 419-724-6086, or on Twitter @NolanRosenkrans.