Sports

Former UM Griz player Donaldson will serve 10 years for rape

Posted: Jan 11, 2013 6:40 PM by MTN News - Missoula
Updated: Jan 11, 2013 6:40 PM

MISSOULA - Former University of Montana Grizzly football player Beau Donaldson was sentenced on Friday to 30 years in prison, with 20 of those years suspended, after he pleaded guilty to raping a sleeping woman at a party in September 2010.

Missoula police detectives said during a monitored phone call, Donaldson admitted to taking advantage of the victim.

Court documents say that during the phone call, Donaldson apologized to the woman and said he had a drinking problem and had been using prescription pain medicine.

Donaldson pleaded guilty in September 2011 as result of a plea bargain in which prosecutors recommended his sentence be no more than 30 years. The maximum sentence for a rape charge is 100 years in prison.

Judge Karen Townsend sentenced Donaldson Friday in Missoula District Court.

The sentencing included emotional testimony from friends and family of both the victim and Donaldson, as well as the victim and Donaldson himself.

During Friday's court session, the victim told the judge that she ran out of the house barefoot the night Beau Donaldson raped her.

The now 23-year-old woman said that in September 2010 she and her best friend decided to stay the night at Donaldson's house after a party.

The victim testified she woke up in the middle of the night to Donaldson raping her. She said she pretended to be asleep, because she was afraid of what Donaldson might do. Once Donaldson left the room, the woman said she grabbed her phone, tiptoed to the door, and then took off running down an alley.

She told the courtroom she was terrified as she was running and calling her mother as Donaldson chased her, apologizing and asking her to stop.

Once her mother got her, the victim called her best friend who was still in Donaldson's house.

Her friend recounted the event in court: "Crying, saying 'Beau raped me, you need to get out of the house right now. My mom and I are outside to get you.'"

Donaldson also testified, and said, "I hope me being here and apologizing helps."

-Irina Cates contributed to this report

(January 9, 2012) New details emerged Monday about the rape allegation against University of Montana football player Beau Donaldson, who was arrested on Friday and charged with sexual intercourse without consent.

Court documents released to Montana's News Station state that in December, Missoula Police Detective Guy Baker interviewed a "Jane Doe" who reported that on September 25th, 2010, Beau Donaldson had sexual intercourse with her while she was sleeping at his residence after drinking alcohol at a house party.

The Jane Doe told Missoula police that she had been friends with Donaldson for years, but they were not romantically involved.

Court documents state that the Jane Doe told police she was sleeping on a couch, fully clothed, and woke up a few hours later to find her pants and underwear pulled down and Donaldson having intercourse with her.

After Donaldson assaulted the victim, he pulled up her clothing, covered her up and left the room. The Jane Doe immediately left the residence and called her mother saying Donaldson raped her.

The Jane Doe also called a female friend who had also spent the night of the party at Donaldson's house, and warned her to leave immediately because Donaldson raped her.

The victim went to First Step Resource Center and submitted a sexual assault exam.

According to the Jane Doe, her mother, and other witnesses, Donaldson came to the victim's home the next day, where the victim confronted him about having sex without her consent.

In court documents, Donaldson initially denied the act, but later admitted to the accusation and apologized.

On December 23rd, in a telephone conversation with Jane Doe monitored by Missoula police detectives, Donaldson admitted he took sexual advantage of the victim and had sexual intercourse with her while she was sleeping.

He apologized and attributed the act to a "drinking problem" as well as pain medication.

Donaldson remains in jail and is scheduled to make his first court appearance Monday afternoon in Missoula Justice Court.

He faces felony charge of sexual intercourse without consent which is punishable by up to 100 years in prison and a $50,000 fine.