Ex-BSU football player accused of assaulting student won’t face criminal charges

A Boise State football player who was kicked off the team following allegations that he assaulted a student in his dorm won’t face felony or misdemeanor criminal charges, according to county and city prosecutors.

Jace Richter, 18, was accused of attacking Ben Taylor, 18, in a freshman dorm on Oct. 8. Taylor’s injuries included two black eyes, a broken nose, a concussion and a broken arm, his attorney said.

Boise police investigated the incident and forwarded their report to prosecutors.

“The evidence does not support misdemeanor prosecution,” the City Attorney’s Office said in a brief written statement Monday. A city spokesman said there would be no further comment on the case.

In November, the Ada County Prosecutor’s Office said it would not pursue felony charges against Richter.

Some witnesses to the incident told a private investigator that Taylor initiated a fight, first shoving Richter and then taking a swing.

Taylor’s attorney filed a civil suit, which seeks damages in excess of $10,000. The suit alleges that Richter punched Taylor in the face, knocked him to the ground and continued punching him.

The university is investigating to determine if the incident violated the student code of conduct. That process is private, a Boise State spokesman said.

Richter was dismissed from the football team on Oct. 20. He was a true freshman walk-on from Mountain View High in Meridian. He was the 2016 5A Southern Idaho Conference Co-Defensive Player of the Year.

This story was originally published December 18, 2017 at 6:05 PM with the headline "Ex-BSU football player accused of assaulting student won’t face criminal charges."