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Former USC football player accused of raping 2 women

Southern California cornerback Joshua Jackson Jr. (23) can't hold on to a pass intended for a San Jose State receiver during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 4, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Former University of Southern California defensive back Joshua Jackson Jr. was arrested Wednesday on charges of raping two university students, including a case that dates back to 2020, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced.

Prosecutors say Jackson Jr., 21, raped a UCLA student “sometime between June 1 and September 1, 2020” at his apartment. He is also accused of raping a classmate at her USC apartment in March 2023.

He was booked into the Foltz Criminal Justice Center in Los Angeles on one count of forcible sexual penetration and three felony counts of forcible rape.

Joshua Jackson Jr. #23 is accused of raping two university students. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

“Sexual assault is a heinous crime that cannot be tolerated,” District Attorney George Gascón said in a statement. “These brave women made the difficult decision to come forward and report their assault, now it’s our turn to ensure that justice is done.”

According to USA Today, Jackson Jr. left USC and entered the NCAA’s transfer portal in April of this year. He last took the field for the Trojans in 2021.

His official page on usctrojans.com was taken down as of Wednesday afternoon.