LAS CRUCES, N.M. (KRQE) – New Mexico State University is facing two new lawsuits surrounding the hazing scandal in the basketball program.
The hazing allegations that came out last year led to three NMSU men’s basketball players facing felony sex crime charges. The victims who first came forward spoke out last year saying their lives would never be the same.
“There’s a part of me that hasn’t been the same now, and I want people to know that. I’ve changed.” Those are the words from one of the two former players’ legal action against the hazing and sexual assault they claimed to have experienced at NMSU.
Now, former NMSU basketball player Bol Kuir is suing the university, former Head Basketball Coach Greg Heiar, and Athletic Director Mario Moccia for ignoring Kuir’s reports of the misconduct.
The first of two new lawsuits claimed two felons on the NMSU team were known to have and carry firearms, saying players took them into locker rooms, on buses to games, and other campuses.
The document named former NMSU basketball player Mike Peake, who brought a gun on the bus to the game against the University of New Mexico and ended up in a deadly shootout with a UNM student.
While Kuir never claims to be a victim of assault while in the program, the lawsuit said he reported misconduct like “pantsing” and inappropriate touching to Coach Heiar but was told he needed to stop being a “tattle tale.”
Kuir said he was soon after kicked off the team and replaced by Kim Aiken, who along with former players Doctor Bradley and Deshawndre Washington are facing criminal sex charges for the allegations.
After the allegations came out in February of last year, Heair claimed he never knew of any misconduct.
“Within our program, we preach about the importance of representing the institution, the community, and themselves the right way,” said Heair last year.
The second lawsuit against NMSU said an unnamed player was also subject to unwanted physical and sexual harassment by fellow teammates.
In the first two lawsuits over the hazing and assault allegations, NMSU paid out $8 million in settlement money. The school is also facing a lawsuit from another player and student managers.