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| SportsThursday, December 22, 2005 12:42 PM CST |
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Vikings charged in party scandal
MINNEAPOLIS -- Quarterback Daunte Culpepper and three Minnesota Vikings teammates were charged Thursday with indecent, lewd and disorderly conduct for participating in a bawdy boat party that drew national attention. Culpepper, currently on injured reserve, Bryant McKinnie, Fred Smoot and Moe Williams each were charged with three misdemeanors for their behavior aboard a boat on Lake Minnetonka, according to court papers. If convicted, each player faces up to a maximum of 90 days in jail and a $1,000 fine for each count. "The night of the incident, there was no shortage of inappropriate behavior on both boats," Hennepin County Sheriff Pat McGowan said. Prosecutor Steve Tallen charged the players based on an investigation by McGowan's office, which reviewed allegations of lewd and drunken behavior aboard two craft chartered for the outing on Oct. 6. Crew members complained that some people took off their clothes and engaged in public sex acts during the cruise, according to Stephen Doyle, an attorney representing the boats' owners, Al & Alma's Supper Club and Charter Cruises in Mound, Minn. Crew members were able to identify 17 Vikings among about 90 people on the two boats; McGowan said authorities ultimately identified about 30 Vikings. The criminal complaints said that after the boats left the dock, crew members noticed many female passengers going to a lower restroom area and emerging in scant clothing. Culpepper got a lap dance from a naked woman, and put his hands on her buttocks; McKinnie placed a woman on a bar and performed oral sex; Smoot used a sex toy on two women; and Williams got a lap dance from a topless dancer and placed his hands on her breasts. Smoot and defensive end Lance Johnstone arranged the charter, according to court papers. Smoot declined comment in the team's locker room before practice. Culpepper and Williams, also on injured reserve, are away from the team and undergoing rehabilitation. McKinnie wasn't seen in the locker room. "According to NFL rules and union contracts, there is a large difference between allegations and charges and convictions," coach Mike Tice said. "So until at any point there is a conviction of some type, if there is, I have no action to take and nothing to say." Vikings owner Zygi Wilf was unavailable for comment. Kevin Warren, an attorney for the team, said the allegations were "very disturbing." Get area high school sports scores and statistics at Varsity Sports. E-mail this story | Print this story | Search archives | RSS Show comments |  Hide comments | Hide comments on all stories |
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