South Carolina Basketball Star Ashlyn Watkins Arrested on Assault and Kidnapping Charges
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Ashlyn Watkins, a key player on South Carolina’s national championship women’s basketball team, was arrested on August 31 and charged with first-degree assault and battery, as well as kidnapping.
According to reports, Ashlyn Watkins is accused of grabbing the victim’s head and forcing them to walk down a hallway, preventing them from leaving. The victim, who is a minor, eventually managed to escape and set off a fire alarm in a student housing building at the University of South Carolina.
Emergency responders arrived, and the victim was treated for injuries that were not life-threatening. The arrest warrants also mention that Watkins was read her rights and admitted to the accusations.
During a bond hearing on the same day, prosecutors said that Watkins and the victim knew each other. Watkins was released on a $30,000 bond around 3:30 p.m. that day. Her lawyer, Todd Rutherford, believes that once the full story is known, it will be clear that Watkins is innocent.
“We believe once everyone understands what happened, it will be seen as a misunderstanding,” Rutherford said. “We are sure that Ashlyn did not assault or kidnap anyone.”
Even so, the court ordered Watkins to stay 1,000 feet away from the victim’s home, work, school, and place of worship. She is allowed to travel out of state for basketball games and practices. Watkins’ next court date is set for October 25.
A spokesperson for the South Carolina women’s basketball team said they are aware of the situation and are gathering more information, according to ESPN.
Ashlyn Watkins, who is from South Carolina, was named the state’s Gatorade Player of the Year in 2022. She led her team in blocks and was the first female player in the program’s history to dunk in a game. At this time, Watkins has not responded to requests for comments from news outlets.
