EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — Another former New Mexico State University men’s basketball player allegedly involved in a hazing and sexual assault case accepted a plea deal in the Doña Ana County Third Judicial District Court on Tuesday, Dec. 10.
Kim Aiken Jr., who made an appearance over a video call, agreed to plead guilty to two felony counts of false imprisonment and one felony count of conspiracy to commit false imprisonment.
Aiken Jr. is one of three former NMSU men’s basketball players from the 2022-23 team that was charged with multiple felony sex crimes last November after a months-long investigation by the New Mexico Attorney General’s Office.
The investigation alleges Aiken Jr., Deshawndre Washington, and Doctor Bradley assaulted other members of the team between August and November of 2022.
The three former NMSU players are accused “of holding younger players and student staff against their will while they violated them. Alleged acts included multiple incidents in which they forcefully restrained victims while violently grabbing their genital area,” according to a press release from the AG’s office. Washington has been described as the “ringleader” in multiple documents and investigations including an NMSU Title IX report.
Aiken was originally charged with one count of second-degree criminal sexual penetration (aided or abetted by another), five counts of false imprisonment, three counts of fourth-degree criminal sexual contact (aided or abetted by another) and one count each of conspiracy to commit criminal sexual contact (aided or abetted by another) and false imprisonment-conspiracy.
The maximum sentence for Aiken Jr, if convicted, would have been 24 years in prison. Aiken Jr. pleaded not guilty in Dec. 2023.
Aiken Jr.’s plea agreement entails 4 1/2 years of probation at initial sentencing if he follows the terms of the agreement and the original conditions of release. Aiken’s sentencing will happen after Washington’s case is finished.
Aiken Jr. becomes the second former NMSU basketball player involved in the case to accept a plea deal. Doctor Bradley accepted a plea deal in October.
Part of Aiken Jr.’s plea agreement is that he’ll testify against Washington — now the lone defendant in the case — in a trial scheduled for next February.
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