Ex-UCLA water polo player charged with sexually assaulting 3 women
A former UCLA water polo player has been indicted on charges of rape and sexual assault involving three different women.
Hakop Jack Kaplanyan, 19, was charged in an eight-count indictment unsealed Monday by a Los Angeles County grand jury. At least one of the alleged sexual assaults occurred at a UCLA residence hall, according to the indictment.
Kaplanyan, of Glendale, pleaded not guilty in Los Angeles County Superior Court on Monday morning.
He is charged with sexually assaulting three victims between Oct. 1, 2012, and April 2, 2013. He was arrested Feb. 28.
Deputy Dist. Atty. Liliana Gonzalez said Kaplanyan faces one felony count each of forcible rape, false imprisonment by violence and 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.
UCLA police described one of the victims as an acquaintance of Kaplanyan’s who reported the alleged rape as occurring inside a residence hall.
Kaplanyan was originally arrested in April 2013 while a red-shirt freshman at UCLA. At the time his attorney said his client was dating the woman and that the two had had consensual sex.
Kaplanyan, who played at Glendale’s Hoover High School and was an All-CIF selection, was due back in court Monday for a bail hearing. He was being held in lieu of 0$590,000 bail.
In the wake of the arrest, he was suspended from the university. His supporters released a 76-second video — titled “Hakop Kaplanyan — Innocence 2013” — lauding his athletic accomplishments and describing him as “dedicated, intelligent, honest, optimistic and caring.”
Kaplanyan “is facing a rough obstacle,” the video says, “being accused of actions that he did not commit.”
If convicted of all charges, the one-time water polo star faces 37 years and four months in state prison.
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