Ex-Louisville Guard Chris Jones Pleads Not Guilty to Rape, Sodomy

Former Louisville guard Chris Jones has pleaded not guilty to charges of rape and sodomy, days after being dismissed from the team.

The 23-year-old Jones appeared Thursday in Jefferson District Court before Judge Sheila Collins.

The Memphis native was dismissed from the team Sunday, days after he was reinstated following a one-game suspension Feb. 17 for violating an unspecified team rule. Coach Rick Pitino said Jones returned to the team after meeting unspecified conditions for reinstatement.

A Louisville campus police report obtained on Monday stated that Jones sent a woman a text threatening to "smack" her on Feb. 17. No charges were filed against Jones, but he was suspended from the team hours later and did not travel with Louisville to a game at Syracuse.

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