Kentucky football star Jamarion Wilcox arrested on first-degree sexual abuse charges

A Kentucky football player, Jamarion Wilcox, a redshirt sophomore running back, was arrested Friday on first-degree sexual abuse charges connected to an incident in August, authorities said. The arrest follows a summer suspension for unspecified team-rule violations, with head coach Mark Stoops saying in August that Wilcox had violated team rules.

According to a criminal complaint cited by WKYT, Wilcox entered the victim's bed around 1 a.m. on August 20 without a shirt and placed an arm across the sleeping person. The complaint says the victim woke, Wilcox allegedly placed a hand on the victim's thigh and urged them to open their legs, before continuing with an unwanted sexual advance. Lexington police said detectives had been investigating the case for more than a month prior to the arrest, according to LEX18.

Wilcox was booked at the Fayette County Detention Center on a charge of first-degree sexual abuse and released on a $5,000 bond. An emergency protective order was issued, authorities said. The Lexington Police Department confirmed that investigators had been active in the case for weeks before the arrest.

A Kentucky spokesman said Wilcox would be withheld from this weekend's game against South Carolina and would not travel with the team as the matter is reviewed. The Wildcats had previously suspended him for undisclosed reasons during the summer.

In last season's action, Wilcox appeared in 12 games with four starts, rushing for 590 yards and two touchdowns, along with seven receptions for 24 yards. He was Kentucky's leading rusher in the final four games, contributing as the Wildcats moved toward a 2-1 record heading into the South Carolina matchup.