USC Recruit Pleads Not Guilty

USC football recruit Antione Simpson pleaded not guilty to a sexual assault charge Friday in Houston. Arraignment was set for June 29.

Simpson, 17, and a friend were charged with rape by a 15-year-old girl who said the two took turns restraining and assaulting her in her home last Sunday night.

A 6-foot-3, 280-pound defensive end, Simpson signed a letter of intent to enroll at USC in January.

Simpson remained free on $5,000 bond, but his friend, Phillip Gay, 19, remained in jail because of a parole violation.