FAYETTEVILLE -- Prosecutors have declined to press charges against one of the two University of Arkansas golfers accused of taking pictures of an unconscious woman's genitals, while the second man pleaded not guilty at his arraignment Monday.
Taylor Moore, 21, pleaded not guilty to one count of video voyeurism and was given an Aug. 19 trial date.
Matt Durrett, Washington County prosecutor, said information came to light that Nicolas Echavarria, 20, wasn't involved, even though some pictures of the woman were found on his cell phone.
Echavarria may have been at the house where the woman was photographed but there's no evidence he participated, Durrett said, explaining statements made to police were later clarified.
"I can't go into specifics because Taylor Moore's case is still open," Durrett said.
The two were accused of taking photos of an intoxicated woman while she slept at Moore's house, according to a Fayetteville Police Department report.
Recording images of an individual's private body parts without the person's consent is considered video voyeurism and punishable by a fine or up to a year in jail.
The two were arrested just before the NCAA Yale Regional in New Haven, Conn., in mid-May. Both were suspended indefinitely from the golf team and didn't participate in the tournament. Arkansas didn't advance from the regional.
Kevin Trainor, associate athletic director for public relations, didn't immediately return a message for comment about the players' team status.
The woman told police on April 11 she consumed multiple alcoholic drinks at various bars on Dickson Street in Fayetteville and then ran into Moore and Echavarria, whom she described in the report as friends.
She said she went to two other places with the pair, then because she was too intoxicated to drive, she and another friend accepted a ride from Moore and Echavarria. According to the women, they dropped off her friend and then took her to Moore's house.
The woman, who told police she passed out, then awoke in the car several times, said she was under the impression she would spend the night at Moore's house, then be given a ride home in the morning.
The woman said she kept falling asleep, then waking up on the couch and recalled being carried into Moore's bedroom. The woman said while in the bedroom, she recalled seeing a flash of light and suspected Moore took photos of her.
Ron Wood can be reached by email at [email protected] or on Twitter @NWARDW.
NW News on 06/09/2015