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UM football player jailed, faces rape charge

MISSOULA (AP) — A University of Montana football player faces a charge of sexual intercourse without consent.

The Missoulian reports (http://bit.ly/zefGoU) that running back Beau Donaldson, 22, on Friday was booked into the Missoula County Detention Facility with a suggested bail of $100,000.

It's unclear if the arrest is part of the university's investigation started Dec. 14 into allegations that two female students were given a date-rape drug and sexually assaulted by male students. Former Montana Supreme Court Justice Diane Barz was hired by the university to investigate those allegations. UM Vice President Jim Foley declined to say whether Donaldson's arrest resulted from that investigation.

"It's obviously a new development and we will continue to monitor the judicial process over the next few days, including Monday," he told the newspaper Friday. Donaldson is scheduled to appear in Missoula County Justice Court on Monday.

The school had asked Barz to complete the review by Dec. 31. But the school on Tuesday released a report dated Dec. 31 saying Barz said further investigation was needed, in part because two alleged victims were not cooperating.

The report also said the investigation into allegations of sexual assault at the school found evidence of non-consensual sex going unreported at the university.

Barz's report said she had not found any evidence of the date-rape drug Rohypnol being used, but there was evidence of a sexual assault that had not been appropriately reported and investigated by the university.

The report did not provide specifics, but was critical of the university's response, saying UM is required to take "immediate and appropriate action to investigate or otherwise determine what has occurred if it knows or reasonably should know of possible sexual violence."

Foley said the school is retaining Barz, who is being paid $150 an hour, until the review is complete.

Barz has interviewed 30 people, including coaches and athletes, according to the preliminary report.

Donaldson is a 6-1, 233-pound junior who in 2008 graduated from Missoula's Big Sky High School, where he set 10 school records in football and was named the team's most valuable player as a senior.

At the University of Montana, he missed the 2010 season with a leg injury. Last season he played mostly on special teams before being injured Oct. 29 in a game against Montana State.

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