BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — A former Indiana University football player accused of kidnapping and robbing a man he met through the dating app, Grindr, was sentenced to more than 2.5 years in prison Tuesday as part of a plea agreement with prosecutors.
Da’Shaun Brown pleaded guilty to one count of robbery resulting in bodily injury, a level 3 felony, in exchange for the other remaining charges being dismissed. Brown was originally charged with:
- Armed Robbery, a level 3 felony
- Robbery Resulting in Bodily Injury, a level 3 felony
- Kidnapping while armed with a deadly weapon, a level 3 felony
- Kidnapping with bodily injury, a level 5 felony
BACKGROUND
According to court documents, on the night of April 6, 2022, Bloomington police met with a man who reported interacting a man identified as Brown, on the dating app Grindr. The man reportedly invited Brown over to his apartment. Police said Brown wore a face covering "so he could not be identified."
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Later in the night, the man told police Brown held a knife to his neck and threatened to kill him if he did not give all of his money. When the man opened his wallet to show he didn't have any money, Brown reportedly covered the man's head with a coat and forced him into Brown's car.
Police say Brown drove to a nearby ATM to try and get cash from the victim's credit cards, after which he took the man back home, deleted the Grindr app off the man's phone and left the area.
The victim told police Brown threatened to kill him if he called the police.
Using security camera video from the ATM, police were able to get a description of Brown's car, as well as his license plate. Police later found the vehicle at a home on Lincoln Street, and reported seeing Brown get into the vehicle.
Police obtained a search warrant for Brown's home and reported finding clothing similar to what the victim reported as well as three credit cards with the victim's name. Police arrested Brown after an interview.
According to Indiana Athletics, Brown was listed on the 2021 football roster as a wide receiver, and is from Racine, Wisconsin.
