Atlanta Falcons linebacker Barkevious Mingo has been arrested over allegations of grooming and sexual abuse of a teenage boy that allegedly took place in July 2019.
Arlington Police Department in Texas arrested the 30-year-old athlete Thursday and charged him with one count of indecency with a child – sexual contact.
The Falcons have terminated Mingo's contract after gathering information on the issue, according to NFL.com.
In a statement obtained by NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport, Mingo's attorney Lukas Garcia called the charges against his client "completely baseless."
"At this stage, our side has very limited information. What we do know is these allegations are from over two years ago and are completely untrue. Mr. Mingo is the victim of a false claim, and we believe this is motivated by money or some other ulterior motive,” Garcia added.
Reports from the Arlington Police Department in Texas revealed that Mingo had invited a teenage family member and his friend to hang out with him. Mingo allegedly took them to Six Flags Over Texas amusement park, the K1 Speed go-kart complex and the BJ’s restaurant steakhouse.
Aside from an all-expense paid day out with Mingo, the boys were also spoiled with sports apparel purchased online. The NFL player allegedly indulged the boys on an online shopping spree, purchasing merchandise from the Nike website with the teenagers both picking out a variety of T-shirts, shoes and shorts. The items were shipped to the address of Mingo’s relative.
The day took a pivotal turn when the boys returned to the local hotel where Mingo was staying. Official documents obtained by Sports Illustrated stated the family member’s friend fell asleep and at approximately 3 a.m., he woke up and noticed Mingo in bed with him.
The boy “thought it was odd” because the plan was for the two teenagers to sleep in a room separate from Mingo, but he thought little of it and went back to sleep.
Police said the victim once again woke up to Mingo pulling his underwear. This kept going on for a few minutes until Mingo got more aggressive and pulled the boy’s underwear down to his shins.
The boy confessed that while this was happening, he was scared and pretended to be asleep as the 6’5” linebacker was putting lotion on him that made his skin burn. Police said the sexual abuse involved thorough contact with the teenage boy’s penis as Mingo rubbed the boy's penis up and down with the lotion as well as “in between the victim’s butt crack.”
The case came to the attention of authorities when the boy’s mother lodged a complaint with the police in January 2021. Officers then secured a search warrant for Nike’s sale records from July 4, 2019 to corroborate evidence with the victim’s statements.
Mingo, who signed a one-year contract with the Falcons in March, spent the 2020 season with the Bears. He was originally a 2013 first-round pick by the Browns.
According to the Tarrant County bond records, Mingo turned himself in “on his own accord in consultation with his attorney” and has been released from custody after posting a $25,000 bond.
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