A sexual assault allegation that was made against Matt Patricia in 1996 came to light this week, but both his current and former employers are standing by the first-year head coach.
Bill Belichick released a statement addressing the Patricia situation on Thursday, and the coach noted that the New England Patriots — like the Detroit Lions — were unaware that Patricia was indicted on a sexual assault charge more than 20 years ago. Belichick also praised Patricia for being an “outstanding person, coach and family man.”
Bill Belichick’s statement on Matt Patricia. Defends Patricia as a man of integrity, said Patriots didn’t know of the allegations either pic.twitter.com/5Y5sbhMkG9
— Dave Birkett (@davebirkett) May 10, 2018
As an article published by the Detroit News highlighted, Patricia and one of his Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute teammates and fraternity brothers, Greg Dietrich, were accused in 1996 of bursting into a room and taking turns sexually assaulting a woman they had met during a spring break trip to South Padre Island in Texas. The woman identified Patricia and Dietrich as the assailants. The two were arrested and later released on bond. They were charged with sexual assault and indicted by a grand jury, but they never stood trial. Records show the woman did not want to proceed with the case and stand trial.
Patricia met with the media on Thursday to address the allegation, and he passionately defended his innocence.
