Damonte Dodd, Former UMD Basketball Star, Charged With Rape

COLLEGE PARK, MD — Former starting center for the University of Maryland men's basketball team, Damonte Dodd, was indicted on rape and assault charges for allegedly having sex with an intoxicated woman against her will in November of 2017, according to officials.

Dodd, 24, was charged with second-degree rape, second-degree assault and related charges for an incident that allegedly took place at an apartment in College Park after Halloween in 2017, a statement from Prince George’s County State’s Attorney Angela Alsobrooks said.

Dodd was arrested on a Prince George's County warrant in Atlanta as he returned from international travel on Thursday, Alsobrooks said.

The statement said Dodd met the alleged victim for the first time at Terrapin's Turf Bar in College Park on October 31, 2017. He "bought her alcoholic drinks and later left the bar with her, taking her to a friend's College Park apartment," the statement said.

Dodd allegedly had sex with the woman against her will in the early morning hours of Nov. 1, Alsobrooks said.

"An occupant in the apartment confronted him upon awaking," the statement said.

The victim reported the incident to officials five days later. Dodd admitted to the sexual acts, but said it was consensual, the statement said.

“The fact that the victim in this case was intoxicated did not give Mr. Dodd the right to take advantage of her,” Alsobrooks said in the statement. “We will conduct a thorough investigation and ensure that he is held accountable for his actions.”

The Baltimore Sun reporter Childs Walker tweeted that Dodd's defense attorney, Thomas Mooney, declined to comment on the specifics of the case, but said he's "confident in a favorable outcome."

Walker wrote in his article that a spokeswoman for the state's attorney said Dodd was making his way back to Maryland to turn himself in before he was detained by Homeland Security officials in Atlanta.

Dodd, originally from Centreville, played for Maryland from 2013 to 2017. He started in 69 games for the Terps and ranks No. 8 on the team's career blocks list. He briefly played for the Northern Arizona Suns in November.

In December 2017, Dodd posted a statement to his Instagram account that said he was taking some time off from basketball to get himself together.

"Recently I have been dealing with some things from my childhood that has had me at a low point in my life and it's been hard to deal with," his statement said. "I always hid the scars and tears because I felt that I can deal with anything on my own but this time I just couldn't."

"My family, agent and I think it's best that I take some time off from basketball to get myself together," he said. "You guys know I love basketball and that's what keeps me happy but I have to do this for myself."

Dodd is currently being held in Atlanta and will appear in court in prince George's County on July 12.