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Investigation finds that a slew of ‘Last Chance U’ athletes disciplined for sex offenses
By Keith Farner
Published:
One of the more popular sports shows on Netflix in recent years has been the junior college football documentary series “Last Chance U.” But an investigation from the USA TODAY Network revealed that a slew of athletes who appeared on the show, particularly from Independence Community College in Kansas, have been disciplined for sex offenses.
“Last Chance U” aired its first season in 2016 and is currently producing its fifth season.
The Hutchinson News reported that “Last Chance U.” spotlights athletes who got bad grades, busted for marijuana or who came from difficult family situations, but it never mentions that several landed at Independence for a more serious reason: They were found responsible for sexual assault.
At least four members of the 2017 Independence roster joined within months of being punished for sexual misconduct at their previous Division I universities, disciplinary records obtained by the USA TODAY Network show. Although not featured as central characters, the four made cameos on the show.
That is part of a disturbing trend, the report reveals.
Those athletes are among at least 33 athletes since 2014 identified in a USA TODAY Network investigation as having transferred to NCAA schools despite being administratively or criminally disciplined for sex offenses at a previous college.
At least 16 of the 33 stopped at junior colleges on their way back to the NCAA from the schools where the sexual offenses took place, the investigation found.
Former coach Jason Brown said all four players were vetted and he believes they are innocent, adding that he has turned away others who have sexual misconduct in their backgrounds.
“I would have let them babysit my daughter any day,” he said.
Brown said none of the players were criminally charged, and that he did not receive any reports of sexual misconduct against any of his players while at Independence.
A former newspaper veteran, Keith Farner is a news manager for Saturday Down South.
