UCLA Water Polo Player Faces Rape Charges

An 18-year-old freshman water polo player at UCLA was arrested in connection with a sex assault

A former UCLA water polo player pleaded not guilty on Monday to eight counts of rape and other charges, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office said.

A Los Angeles County grand jury indictment charges Hakop Jack Kaplanyan, 19, of Glendale, with one felony count each of forcible rape; false imprisonment by violence; possession of matter depicting a minor engaging in sexual conduct; and a misdemeanor count of sexual battery by restraint.

He also faces two felony counts each of sexual penetration by a foreign object and assault with intent to commit rape, prosecutors said.

A judge denied his request to reduce his bail, partly because there are three alleged victims.

The alleged sexual assaults happened between Oct. 1, 2012 and April 2, 2013.

He was arrested on Friday.

His attorney denied the charges and said he has no criminal history.

If convicted of all charges he faces 37 years and four months in state prison.

The case remains under investigation by the UCLA Police Department.

News of the case broke in April when Kaplanyan was arrested and suspended from the college after being accused of attacking a fellow student.

A female acquaintance filed a report April 2 with UCLA police alleging that she was raped by Kaplanyan in a student residence hall.

The star freshman with the university's top-rated water polo team tried to appeal his suspension but lost.

College officials said he is no longer a student there.

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