PLAYER CHARGED: Palo Arrested For Sexual Abuse

For the past three years, admiring eyes watched Iowa State point guard Bubu Palo.

The Ames native and former walk-on earned First Team Academic All Big 12 honors and worked his way towards a basketball scholarship.

On Friday, Palo found himself in unfamiliar territory.

He was under arrest for second degree sexual abuse.

“That is a Class B felony that if convicted carries a maximum sentence of 25 years in a state penitentiary.”

Palo turned himself in to the Story County Detention Center Friday morning and faced a judge for his preliminary hearing.

Ames Police Sergeant Rory Echer says the charges result from an incident that allegedly happened on May 18th.

“An adult female came into our office and reported that she had been assaulted by the two defendants,” Echer told Channel 13 News.

According to an arrest report, Palo and 21 year old Spencer Cruise offered the female victim a ride home, but instead took her back to a house owned by Cruise’s family.

That’s where the alleged sexual assault took place.

A search warrant turned up evidence that led to today’s arrests.

“That evidence was sent to the DCI lab and subsequently we just recently got the results of that evidence and DNA from both Cruise and Palo was found on that evidence.”

Palo was granted pre-trial release and a no contact order was issued against him.