Former Vanderbilt football player again convicted of rape

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – A jury Saturday convicted a former Vanderbilt football player of encouraging his teammates to rape an unconscious woman he had been dating. It took jurors over four hours of deliberation to find Brandon Vandenburg guilty on multiple counts of aggravated rape and aggravated sexual battery, as well as unlawful photography. He faces at least 15 years in prison.

The jurors in the case had to decide whether to hold Vandenburg responsible for what other players were accused of doing to the student in June 2013.

Vandenburg’s attorneys argued he was too drunk to form the intent to direct players he didn’t know.

The defense maintained Vandenberg was a new recruit to the school and had asked teammates to help him carry the unconscious woman into his dorm room.

Prosecutors said Vandenberg passed out condoms to the players and took videos of the crime.

Vandenburg and Cory Batey were convicted last year but the verdicts were thrown out after it was revealed a juror was a victim of statutory rape.