Iowa State quarterback Hunter Dekkers and The Weinhardt Law Firm, of Des Moines have released a statement on gambling allegations that surfaced Tuesday afternoon.
The entire statement can be read in full, here:
“Hunter Dekkers denies the criminal charge brought against him. He will plead not guilty to that charge because he is in fact not guilty of thatcharge.
“This charge attempts to criminalize a daily fact of American life. Millions of people share online accounts of all kinds every day.
“This prosecution interferes with and politicizes what is the business of Iowa State University and the NCAA. The investigation at the Iowauniversities is the tip of an iceberg. Thousands and thousands of collegeathletes place bets—usually very small ones—with shared accounts. That is for the schools and the NCAA to police.
“From boyhood, Hunter Dekkers has been the model student athlete, with the first emphasis on student. He grew up in a close-knit farm family intiny Hawarden, Iowa, on the state’s northwest border. Playing football at Iowa State has been a dream come true.
“This investigation has gone on since May, when DCI agents executed a search warrant at Hunter’s apartment in Ames and another at his family’s home in northwest Iowa. The investigation has been an immense distraction from Hunter’s ability to be a good student and a great teammate. Hunter greatly appreciates the cooperation and support of Iowa State University andCoach Campbell and his staff during these events.
“So he can focus on his studies and on the defense of this criminal charge, Hunter has informed the University and the coaching staff that he cannot participate in fall football camp.”
