SALT LAKE CITY — Prosecutors have now filed formal criminal charges against a University of Utah player accused of physically barring a high school student from leaving his apartment and then raping her.
Terrell Maurice Perriman, 20, was charged in 3rd District Court Friday with rape, a first-degree felony, and aggravated kidnapping, a third-degree felony.
A 17-year-old girl told police she met Perriman on Instagram and the two began chatting through texts and Snapchat. On Jan. 23, Perriman sent an Uber to pick her up and take her to his downtown apartment, according to charging documents.
Police say Perriman took the girl into his bedroom, then eventually closed the door and began talking to her about having sexual intercourse with him.
The teen said she did not want to have sex, told Perriman that he was making her uncomfortable and said she wanted to leave, according to the charges.
Perriman took the girl’s cellphone, “then stood in front of the door with his arms crossed and told her that she could not leave” until she had sex with him, the charges state.
The girl told police that Perriman briefly left to talk to a roommate and she tried to leave but Perriman “barred the way.”
“Perriman covered (the girl’s) mouth with his hand and (she) tried to bite him,” the charges state. He then allegedly threw her on the bed “and told her she was not leaving” before undressing her and raping her.
Afterward, Perriman called for an Uber to take her home, police say.
The 17-year-old also told police she saw a Taser in the bedroom and feared he would use it on her.
Prosecutors have requested a $500,000 bail for Perriman, who is being held in the Salt Lake County Jail. “The defendant has no ties to Utah, has been suspended from the University of Utah, has been evicted from his residence and has no means or support to stay in the state, making him a flight risk,” the court documents state.
In 2018, Perriman, of Miami, played in two U. football games on special teams and at wide receiver before he redshirted. He played in 10 games during the 2019 football season.
U. head football coach Kyle Whittingham issued a statement saying Perriman was “suspended from all team activities.”
“Obviously, this does not reflect the values and standards of our program and we will continue to monitor the situation as it moves through the legal process,” he said.
Mark Harlan, the university’s director of athletics, called the allegations “disturbing and difficult to read.”
“We have more than 500 student-athletes who proudly and deservedly represent the University of Utah with character, integrity and kindness and we will not allow the alleged actions of anyone to define who we are and what we are about,” Harlan said. “We will continue to educate our student-athletes on appropriate conduct, decision-making and consent.”
Salt Lake police said in cases like these there are often other victims and encouraged anyone who may have been a victim to call police victim advocates at 801-580-7969.