A Utah Valley University basketball player was arrested Saturday after a woman alleged he had sexually abused her at a house party, and he has been suspended from the team.
A caller reported what he or she described as an attempted sexual assault in a 1:30 a.m. call to Orem police, according to a probable cause statement.
Court documents state that a man and woman at the party were dancing and left the area to kiss in a bathroom. There, the woman later told police, the man began to touch her and she told him no. When she tried to leave the room, he allegedly grabbed her by the groin and ripped her tights.
The woman called for help and kicked the man. Another partygoer heard the commotion and went into the bathroom. He confronted the man, and the man punched that person and left, allegedly punching a hole in the wall on his way out.
The caller described the assailant as a black man wearing green sweatpants and a jacket, and said he had left the house, according to the probable cause statement.
Police found Zachary Mogbo, 20, in a car parked nearby. Officers said he was wearing clothing that matched the description the caller gave and that he had a fresh cut on his hand.
Officers arrested Mogbo. When police searched him, they found a California driver license with the name Daron Christopher Henson.
Mogbo was booked into Utah County jail on suspicion of forcible sexual abuse, a second-degree felony, in addition to possession of another’s identity documents, a class A misdemeanor, and two class B misdemeanor counts of assault and criminal mischief.
UVU announced in May that Mogbo was transferring to the university to play the next season. He previously played basketball at Palm Beach State. He started at UVU in the fall semester, UVU spokesman Scott Trotter said.
“We are aware of the accusations against him. Per athletic team rules, he was suspended pending the outcome of the investigation. We cannot comment further,” Trotter said.
The woman is not enrolled at UVU, Trotter said.
Mogbo is the second current or former UVU athlete to be accused of sex crimes this week. Dayton Racer, who was removed from the wrestling team last year after he was charged with raping a woman, was arrested Wednesday after an accusation he raped another woman.
Mogbo, whose probable cause statement indicated he has no prior convictions, remains in Utah County jail. His bail is set at $10,000.
