Marshall football player charged with allegedly beating 2 gay men

Marshall running back Steward Butler faces battery charges after his arrest last month for allegedly beating two homosexual men.

The Huntington (W.Va.) Herald-Dispatch reported Wednesday that Butler was suspended from the football team after the university learned of the report.

Butler surrendered to authorities on Wednesday morning. It’s alleged that Butler attacked the two gay men with a closed fist to the face after he saw them kissing in Huntington on April 5. According to the police report, Butler shouted derogatory words toward the men “related to their sexual orientation.”

The battery charges are considered misdemeanors, but the case was turned over to the FBI to investigate possible civil rights violations.

“We take all accusations against our student-athletes seriously, especially those of such a sensitive nature,” Marshall athletic director Mike Hamrick said. “We hold all of our 350+ student-athletes to a high standard, on and off the playing surface, as ambassadors of Marshall University.”

Butler would be entering his senior year as the Herd’s second leading rusher the past two seasons. He ran for 798 yards and seven touchdowns on 107 carries in 2014.

“The entire university community is shocked and disappointed to learn the details surrounding the alleged actions that led to Mr. Butler’s arrest this morning,” Marshall president Gary White said. “The type of violent, bigoted behavior reported to have been perpetrated by this student is not tolerated at Marshall University. Period. This is an extremely serious matter.

“We will allow the legal process to run its course and will act swiftly and appropriately within our Student Conduct System and according to the Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities as more details become clear.”