Fair Grove football standout charged with rape

A Fair Grove senior who has signed to play college football in the fall was charged with rape last week.

Austin Fodge, 18, was charged Saturday with second-degree rape after police say he forced himself on a woman in April.

Fodge signed in February to play football at Benedictine College, an NAIA school in Atchison, Kansas. Benedictine Head Coach Larry Wilcox said Wednesday he was unaware of the allegations against Fodge and had no comment about how the charge might impact Fodge's future at the school.

According to a probable cause statement used to charge Fodge, a woman came to Fair Grove police in mid-April and reported that Fodge had raped her.

The woman told police Fodge asked to come over to her home and speak with her on April 11. When Fodge arrived, the woman said he tried to hug and kiss her, but she rebuffed him, according to the statement.

The woman told police Fodge then held her down on her bed and had sex with her despite her telling him to stop, according to the statement.

The statement says Fodge later sent the woman a text message apologizing for his actions.

Fodge was arrested Friday. The statement says he declined to speak with the detective handling this case.

Court records indicate Fodge has been released on $25,000 bond. His attorney did not immediately return a phone message seeking comment for this report.

Second-degree rape is a Class D felony punishable by up to 7 years in prison.