Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Former UNLV running back charged with rape in California

UNLV Football Practice Aug. 7 2012

Sam Morris

UNLV running back Dionza Bradford takes a break during practice Tuesday, August 7, 2012.

SAN BERNARDINO — Authorities have charged a Barstow man, who played running back for UNLV, with a rape by force or fear felony, court records show.

Dionza A. Bradford, 24, was scheduled to appear in a San Bernardino courtroom Monday afternoon to answer the charge, stemming from his arrest at his home in Barstow last week. But court records showed he was not present in court for arraignment and a new date was not set.

A Sheriff's official said Monday morning the alleged rape was reported to authorities in Victorville on Oct. 19. But further information of the rape was not immediately available. A media inquiry for information on the rape left with Victorville Sheriff's Station spokesperson Mara Rodriguez was not immediately returned.

Booking records show the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Special Enforcement Detail arrested Bradford at his home, listed as the 1500 block of Lorane St., on June 16. But an online search for the address did not yield any results in Barstow.

Booking records also showed on Monday that Bradford was expected to appear in a Victorville courtroom Wednesday, also on suspicion of rape by force or fear. Court records did not show any other charges filed against Bradford other than three traffic infractions.

As a high school running back at Serrano High School in Phelan, Bradford earned all-CIF, all-area and all-league honors in his junior and senior years. As a senior in 2009, Bradford missed three games due to a sprained ankle but still rushed for 1,347 yards and 17 touchdowns and also had 75 tackles as a safety. He helped lead the Diamondbacks to the CIF-Southern Section Eastern Division championship game by running for six TDs in a semifinal win over Norte Vista.

Bradford received scholarship offers from San Diego State, San Jose State and New Mexico State. He was committed to UNLV but flipped to San Diego State when the Rebels' coaching staff was fired after the 2009 season. He then changed his mind again after an official visit to UNLV.

In 2011, Bradford played in 12 games for UNLV, started in four, and tallied 615 yards rushing on 133 attempts and scored three touchdowns.

But according to various online reports in September 2012, Bradford left the Rebels to return home to tend to personal matters. Bradford had also left the team earlier that year for the same reason.

Bradford was being held at West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga in lieu of $500,000 for the criminal charge and $250,000 bail for the other rape booking, booking records show.

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