Naval Academy midshipman and football star charged with raping 2 female midshipmen

A U.S. Naval Academy football player was charged with raping two female midshipmen a day after lesser charges against him were dropped.

Photo: Naval Academy midshipman and football star charged with raping 2 female midshipmen

Kenny Ray Morrison, 24, faces a general court-martial on rape allegations stemming from incidents in February and April in which Morrison allegedly gave the women a date rape drug before assaulting them, according to published reports that cite charging documents.

The charges against Morrison are the latest in a series of similar allegations at the elite university this year. The cases come as closer scrutiny is cast on the United States' military schools following numerous claims of sexual assault.

Morrison was charged Tuesday with raping one midshipman on Feb. 4 in Washington, D.C., and another on April 21 in Annapolis, The (Annapolis) Capital newspaper reported.

Morrison, a senior from Kingwood, Texas, had earlier been accused of taking advantage of a drunken female midshipman on Feb. 4 in a Washington hotel room. He faced charges of indecent assault and conduct unbecoming an officer. That case was dropped Monday.

"I don't think there's a chance in the world that the government is going to be able to prove these new charges," said Morrison's civilian attorney, William M. Ferris.

Academy spokesman Cmdr. Ed Austin said Tuesday the academy would not comment beyond a statement issued Monday when the original charges were dropped.

The academy has taken several steps to curb abuse, such as tightening its alcohol policies and encouraging midshipman to report it, but a Pentagon report last year said the school was not doing enough.