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(AP) - Four University of Minnesota football players
being investigated in a sexual assault case have been kicked off
the team, coach Tim Brewster announced Wednesday.

      Dominic Jones, a cornerback charged Monday with third-degree
criminal sexual conduct in connection with the alleged rape of an
18-year-old woman in April, and three teammates -- running back E.J.
Jones, defensive end Alex Daniels and defensive back Keith Massey
were dismissed from the team on Wednesday.

      "It is an honor and a privilege to wear the uniform of the
University of Minnesota and we have exceedingly high expectations
for each of our student-athletes," Brewster said in a statement
issued by the university. 

"We spend a considerable amount of time
addressing our players regarding their personal conduct and we will
not compromise our values. We are establishing a culture of
integrity and we will demand that our players are held accountable
for their actions," Brewster added.

Dominic Jones, a junior and one of the team's best defensive
players, is accused of having sex with a woman who was "physically
helpless" after a night of binge drinking at a campus apartment in
early April. 

Investigators estimated the woman's blood-alcohol content was
more than 0.30 when they say Daniels used his cell phone to film
Jones having sex with the woman. 

Forensic scientists later
recovered a portion of the deleted film from the phone and say they
have DNA evidence linking Jones to the woman.

      Hennepin County attorney Mike Freeman said Daniels, E.J. Jones
and Massey also had sex with the woman earlier in the night.
Freeman has not filed charges against those three but said they
remain suspects in the case.

  Minnesota athletic director Joel Maturi said he supported the
dismissals.

      "I am in full support of the decision of coach Brewster and I
appreciate how he has handled this very difficult situation,"
Maturi said in the statement. "While this issue is deeply
disappointing, the Athletics Department is sending a clear and
unmistakable message that it will never compromise its code of
conduct."

      The school said the dismissals do not immediately affect the
four players' scholarship status or standing as students at the
university, but both are subject to review by the NCAA and the
school.

Gallery

Gopher football player charged with sexual misconduct

Gopher players released; rape investigation continues

3 Gopher football players accused of sexual assault, suspended

Four University of Minnesota football players
being investigated in a sexual assault case have been kicked off
the team, coach Tim Brewster announced Wednesday.

Gopher coach dismisses four football players

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