Michigan State Investigation Says Mark Dantonio Followed School's Assault Policy

Law firm Jones Day's independent investigation into two sexual assault allegations involving Michigan State football players found head coach Mark Dantonio and school administrators handled the matter properly.

Chris Solari of the Detroit Free Press obtained the 14-page report, which was largely complimentary of Dantonio and his staff. The investigation followed two separate sexual assault allegations involving four Spartans football players. 

Per Solari, Jones Day found Dantonio followed the school's sexual misconduct policy. There was one unnamed staff member who did violate the policy, though his transgression was not detailed. 

“In both instances, we found that senior leaders within the football program and the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics (Athletic Department) complied with the RVSM policy by promptly and accurately reporting the information they learned about the underlying incidents to departments within the University that are tasked with investigating and responding to such incidents,” the report reads.

“We also found no evidence that senior leaders within the football program or Athletic Department attempted to impede, cover up, or obstruct the Office of Institutional Equity’s (OIE’s) investigation into the underlying incidents.”

Three unnamed members of the team are under investigation for an incident that took place on Jan. 16. A fourth player became involved in a separate sexual assault investigation in April. All four players were suspended indefinitely from the team pending the result of their cases. 

“I guess what I would say is what I always say: I do my very best to protect our community, protect our environment, protect my family,” Dantonio told reporters in March. “The message that I would send to everybody out there is that I’m going to do the right thing to the best of my abilities.”

Ingham County Prosecutor Carol Siemon said Monday that the three players who were involved in the January assault will be charged with their roles, per Solari.