Global Courant
A former USC football player has been arrested and charged in connection with two rapes of female students in Los Angeles, authorities said this week.
Joshua Fred James Jackson Jr., 21, faces one count of forced sexual penetration and three counts of forced rape, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced Wednesday.
One of the alleged attacks was against a USC student in her apartment in March, prosecutors said. Jackson is also accused of raping a UCLA student in the summer of 2020 in the suspect’s apartment, authorities said.
He pleaded not guilty to all charges on Thursday and is due to appear in court on July 21, when a date for his preliminary hearing can be set, prosecutors said.
“Sexual assault is a heinous crime that cannot be tolerated,” says Los Angeles County DA George Gascon said in a statement. “These brave women have made the difficult decision to come forward and report their abuse, now it’s our turn to make sure justice is done.”
Jackson is not on the list current USC football rosterand he last played for the Trojans in Fall 2021.
A USC spokesperson said in a statement that Jackson “has not participated in any football team activities since before spring break of 2023.”
He graduated in May with a degree in communications, the school spokesman said Friday, though he is still eligible to play.
He reportedly tried to transfer from USC and continues his football career at another school.
The player’s lawyer was not immediately available for comment on Friday.
Jackson enrolled at USC in the spring of 2020 as a wide receiver from nearby Narbonne HS and appeared in four games that fall.
He was substituted to the other side of the ball and played at cornerback in seven games in 2021, recording nine tackles and a interception against Colorado.
Injuries kept Jackson off the field last season, but he was expected to “compete for playing time as a defensive back as a redshirt junior in 2023,” according to his online USC profile.
Rania Soetirto and Ryan Beckler contributed.
