Two Naval Academy midshipmen charged with rape

ANNAPOLIS, Md. - Two Naval Academy football players accused of raping a female midshipman admitted having sex with her after she passed out from drinking, according to court documents.

Cordrea Brittingham and Arion Keith Williams each was charged with second-degree rape, a felony punishable by up to 30 years in prison. They were held on $250,000 bond each.

Brittingham and Williams, both 21, also were charged with second-degree sex offense, a nonconsensual sex act punishable by up to 20 years in prison. Williams also was charged with third-degree sex offense, punishable by up to 10 years.

The two were arrested Monday and held on $250,000 bond each, police spokesman Tom O'Connor said. They declined to comment as they awaited processing.

The alleged assault occurred late Thursday or early Friday at an off-campus party in Arnold, across the Severn River from the academy, police said.

The pair admitted having sex with the 20-year-old woman after she was ''passed out'' and ''unconscious'' from drinking heavily with a dozen others, according to court documents.

The female midshipman told police that she went to a bedroom in the home to lie down after becoming intoxicated and was awakened by two men who were sexually assaulting her. The two fled the room after she pushed them away, according to the police report.

Academy spokesman Cmdr. Mike Brady would not comment beyond reading a statement saying two midshipmen had been charged.

Navy football coach Charlie Weatherbie, who has described the two as key players for his team this year, said he hoped to speak to them later this week.

''We'll let the criminal justice system work, and we'll take appropriate action after that point,'' Weatherbie said.

The Naval Academy has been rocked in recent years by a series of scandals involving drug use, car thefts and sexual assaults on female midshipmen. Several midshipmen have been expelled for sexual misconduct or fraternization.