Former college football player, accused in home invasion, had 4 prior sex assault cases
MASON, Ohio. (WOOD) – One of the former Western Michigan University football players accused of home invasion and robbery in Kalamazoo faced four separate sexual assault allegations in his hometown of Mason, Ohio, according to police reports obtained by Target 8.
Bryson White, 18, was accused in two separate alleged gang rapes and of forcing two girls to perform oral sex. He was never charged in any of the cases.
One of the alleged victims, now 18, told WOOD-TV’s Target 8 she was 15 when White forced her behind a Catholic church in Mason, put a gun to her head and raped her along with two other members of the Mason High School football team.
She said she didn’t pursue the case, in part, because she was afraid. She said a coach also asked her not to pursue it.
White was a star running back for the Mason High School Comets Football Team and a track star. He signed a letter of intent to play for the WMU Broncos Football Team in February.
The allegations against him started in December 2011, when he was 13 and was accused of forcing a 13-year-old girl to perform oral sex behind a home in Mason. The girl’s parents told Target 8 she was harassed at school and didn’t want to pursue the case.
In April 2012, he was 14 when he was accused of forcing a 13-year-old girl to perform oral sex. The girl later told police it was consensual.
White was still 14 in January 2013 when he and an 18-year-old man were accused of holding down a 14-year-old girl at an underage drinking party and taking turns raping her. The Mason High School varsity football coach, Brian Castner, reported the incident to police.
An officer familiar with the case said a clerical error in the grand jury led to dismissal of the case against the 18-year-old. The officer said prosecutors then decided against charges against White.
Then, in September 2013, White and two others were accused of taking a 15-year-old girl behind the Catholic church and taking turns raping her.
White was 17 when he was arrested on March 28, 2016, on charges of driving under the influence of marijuana and suspended driving. Police said his passenger had a gun and a mask.
In an email to Target 8, WMU Athletic Director Kathy Beauregard said the Broncos contacted Mason High School in May after a question arose about White’s character.
“At the time, our coaching staff did follow up on this concern, contacting Mason high school officials. We received positive reinforcement as to Bryson’s character, including the specific assertion of no known law breaking incident,” she wrote.
Castner, the Mason High School football coach, refused to comment on Wednesday when confronted by Target 8 in Ohio.
White is back in Mason after posting bond earlier this week. Target 8 tracked him down to his father’s home, but White refused to comment.
White and teammate, 18-year-old Ronald George, are accused of forcing their way into an off-campus apartment in Kalamazoo on Friday and robbing a woman of marijuana and money. White allegedly was armed with a knife, George with a gun.