A former Notre Dame men's basketball star, who abruptly left his position as assistant coach last year, has been charged with voyeurism.
Ryan Ayers was charged in Indiana Tuesday with three counts of voyeurism, two of which are felony charges, and one count of domestic battery, both linked to two relationships over a four-year period, the South Bend Tribune reported Wednesday.
The Pennsylvania native, who played for the Fighting Irish until he graduated Notre Dame in 2009, is accused of having recorded the two women he dated without their consent, while they were naked or having sex.
© Stew MilneRyan Ayers when he was a player for Notre Dame in 2009.
Ryan Ayers when he was a player for Notre Dame in 2009. (Stew Milne/)
The images found on Ayers' phone show "naked women where they seem to be unaware that a photo was being taken of them," according to charging documents, which note the photos show "women in the shower, sleeping on a bed, or in a sexual position."
One of the women told authorities she and the former basketball star had a "physical altercation" in July 2020, during which Ayers allegedly hit her as he tried to kick her out of the car, according to documents.
The second accuser, who dated Ayers in 2007 and again in 2018, told authorities she reported the footage of her - which she allegedly found on Ayers' phone in April 2018 - this past August upon learning another woman had come forward.
Ayers has denied the allegations against him, according to a statement Tuesday night from South Bend lawyer Peter J. Agostino.
The 2020-21 men's basketball season had already begun when Ayers' departure from the team was announced in late September.
"The university and I decided that Ryan was unable to continue in his role to be a leader of young men, so it was necessary to make the staffing change a few months ago," men's head coach Mike Brey said Tuesday in a statement. "This is a personal issue for Ryan and we won't elaborate any further."