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Former MSU wrestler in court

Posted at 1:57 PM, Oct 03, 2019
and last updated 2019-10-04 06:02:16-04

LANSING, Mich. — Former Michigan State University wrestler Austin Franco was in court on Thursday for his preliminary exam.

20-year-old Austin Franco is accused of sexually assaulting a woman and is facing two charges of criminal sexual conduct.

According to a detective with the Michigan State University Police, Franco tried to have sex with the victim even after she told him not to.

Court documents show Franco was in bed with the victim when the victim felt grinding on her and then asked him to stop.

Records show that she felt him grinding on her a second time. She then left.

The victim took the the stand and testified to both the prosecution and the defense.

Michigan State University Police detective Kelly Johnson said in documents obtained by FOX 47 News, the victim asked Franco if she could sleep in his bed at Wonders Hall.

She added that she did not want to have sex with him.

Then she felt Franco grinding up against her, and got out of bed and told him to stop.

After going back to bed, documents say the victim woke up to Franco naked and grinding on her again.

Chief Assistant Ingham County Prosecutor Mike Cheltenham told FOX 47 News that the victim is not a student or faculty member at Michigan State, but could not speak on camera about the case.

The red-shirt freshman's profile was removed from the Michigan State Athletics site, and the athletic department confirmed to FOX 47 News that he is no longer on the team.

If he's convicted, Franco could face up to four years in prison.

Judge Andrea Larkin will issue a written statement on the case on Friday, October 11th.

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