URI Basketball Player Charged With Felony Video Voyeurism

University of Rhode Island freshman basketball player Jonathan Holton has been charged in Fourth Division District Court with two counts of felony video voyeurism following a complaint from two students.

According to an arrest affidavit filed by URI Police Major Stephen Baker, on March 20 they received two complaints of Holton filming sex acts with two different women, and then posting the videos on Facebook.

Holton, 21, appeared in Fourth Division District Court on Tuesday morning for arraignment. He was released on $10,000 personal recognizance, which is typical for non-violent felony offenses. Both women said the sex was consensual.

A felony screening date has been scheduled for April 27. Holton did not enter a plea, which is the customary practice for felony offenses heard in district court. No-contact orders were enacted between Holton and both alleged victims.

According to a press release from the university, Holton has been suspended from all team activities. Holton currently lives in an apartment on campus, but has a listed home address in Miami, FL.

According to the affidavit filed by Baker, on March 20 they received a complaint from a woman identified as Jane Doe #1. The woman told police that on March 18, she had received a call from a friend that Holton had posted a video on Facebook of Jane Doe #1 and Holton having sex.

The caller told Jane Doe #1 that the video had been viewed by about 30 people. Four videos were forwarded to police by a person identified as “the director of the women’s center” – a name was not provided in the affidavit.

According to the press release from URI, staff at the Division of Students of Affairs was first made aware of the incidents on March 17. The incidents were forwarded to URI police on March 20.

According to Baker’s affidavit, on March 22 Jane Doe #1 viewed the four videos at police headquarters. She identified herself in two videos, and told police that she had not authorized Holton to record their encounter.

Jane Doe #1 allegedly told police that she and Holton had had consensual sex in her apartment in either October or November 2011. She said she didn’t know how Holton had recorded the encounter, but noted that he did have an iPhone on him while in her apartment, since she said he took several phone calls.

Jane Doe #1 said she was “positive” the man in the video was Holton.

Baker wrote that after first contacting Jane Doe #1, a second woman, identified as Jane Doe #2, came forward on March 20.

According to Jane Doe #2, she and Holton had had consensual sex several times at his apartment and her apartment during the fall semester of 2011.

Police showed her the videos on March 23, and she told them that she was in two of the videos. According to Jane Doe #2, while her face wasn’t visible in the videos, she could identify herself based on the clothing.

According to the university, because this is an on-going police investigation and court matter, no further comment will be released. Thomas Dougan, the URI vice president for Student Affairs, released a brief statement.

“These are disturbing allegations that strike at the core of our commitment to make this a safe and civil campus community. Respect for the rights and privacy of all of our community members is paramount,” Dougan said. “Campus police and Student Affairs are involved in separate intensive investigations surrounding these allegations.”

According to URI’s press release, both women are receiving support from the URI Women’s Center and Student Affairs staff.

The incidents have also been forwarded to the student judicial process, which could impose punishments ranging from written reprimand to a suspension from the university, independent of any criminal punishments to Holton. According to URI, if convicted in criminal court Holton could face up to three years in prison and a $5,000 fine.

Holton was a standout in an otherwise dismal year for the URI basketball team, which finished 7-24 overall and the day after the season ended. Danny Hurley was as the new coach.

In his freshman year, Holton averaged 10.2 points and 8.1 rebounds per game. He was named Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Week four times during the season, and he was named to the All-Rookie team.