University of South Florida defensive end LaDarrius Jackson was arrested and charged with sexual battery and false imprisonment for the second time this month on Wednesday, and was subsequently dismissed from the football team.

  • LaDarrius Jackson, 22, turned himself in May 10
  • Incident took place on March 27
  • 1st arrest for sexual battery on May 1

Jackson, 22, turned himself in on Wednesday in connection with an incident that took place on March 27. The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office said Jackson blocked a woman from leaving her bathroom and forced her into the shower, removed her clothes and sexually assaulted her. Deputies then said Jackson forced the woman to drive to a pharmacy to buy and take an emergency contraceptive.

Jackson was released on $9,500 bond Wednesday afternoon. A USF spokesperson confirmed that he has been dismissed from the football team.

On May 1, Jackson was arrested after USF police said he forced a woman to have sex with him in a dormitory on campus. After that incident, head coach Charlie Strong suspended Jackson from team activities while the legal process played out.

We reached out to the attorney representing Jackson, who issued the following statement:

Mr. Jackson was released on the prior arrest on Friday, May 5 and returned home to Alabama after posting bond.  Upon learning of this second allegation the evening of May 9, Ladarrius immediately got in a car and drove approximately 10 hours back to Tampa to voluntarily turn himself in. These allegations, like the other case, are highly questionable given the circumstances surrounding them which we look forward to exposing.  Ladarrius is innocent of all charges and will vehemently fight these false accusations in order to clear his name for his family, his community, his school, his teammates and himself. 

USF coach Strong, Judge Taylor have meeting

University of South Florida football coach Charlie Strong had a closed door meeting this week with the Hillsborough County judge that criticized him. 

Strong met with Circut Judge Margaret Taylor Tuesday at the downtown Tampa courthouse. 

The meeting was described as cordial. 

Last week, Taylor derided Strong and the USF football program after player LaDarrius Jackson was cahrged with sexual battery and false imprisonment of a female student. Jackson, 22, has since been charged with a second assault. He has been dismissed from the Bulls' team. 

According to the Tampa Bay Times, Strong and Taylor, a USF grad, met for about 10 minutes before the judge gave Strong a quick tour of the courthouse.  

Last week, while addressing Jackson in court, Taylor said: "USF may not be the top-ranked school in the nation, I was never ashamed of being an alum until now. I'm embarrassed and ashamed, Mr. Jackson. Let's just say my USF diploma is not proudly hanging in my office right now." 

She then turned her attention to Strong, adding: "I would implore you to think long and hard about whether being head coach at USF is a good fit for you, before any other members of this community have to suffer at the hands of one of your players."

She later recused herself from presiding over Jackson's case. 

According to witnesses at the meeting, Taylor and Strong left the meeting on good terms.