Ex-U. of Colo. Aide Indicted in Sex Scandal

DENVER – A former University of Colorado (search) recruiting aide was indicted Tuesday on counts of soliciting a prostitute and misusing a school cell phone, the only charges to come out of a grand jury's investigation into whether alcohol and sex were used to entice football recruits.

The grand jury accused only Nathan Maxcey (search) in its indictment, making no mention of university officials, students or recruits. It decided against returning an indictment on a charge of "pimping," which had accused Maxcey of setting up prostitutes for unspecified others at a dorm room and Boulder-area hotels used by the Colorado football program.

The indictment in Denver district court charges Maxcey with misdemeanor solicitation for prostitution and two felonies: embezzlement of public property and theft, both related to using a school cell phone to call a dating chat line.

Attorney General Ken Salazar said it was the only indictment returned by the grand jury, which has been hearing testimony in the Colorado investigation since May.

The indictments were handed up last week, but were not made public until Tuesday.

Maxcey, 28, did not immediately return a call. A woman who answered the phone at the Texas home of his parents said the family would not comment.

The scandal at the school erupted early this year after three women filed federal lawsuits alleging they were raped by football recruits or players who attended an off-campus party in December 2001. The lawsuits are pending.

Since 1997, nine women have made similar allegations. Prosecutors have not filed any sexual assault charges, citing concerns about the evidence and the reluctance of the women to pursue the cases.

CU spokeswoman Michele Ames declined to comment. Maxcey has 10 days to respond to the indictment.

University officials have said Maxcey used a university-issued cell phone to call an escort service formerly run by Pasha Cowan.

Cowan has alleged that Maxcey paid her $2,500 for three call girls to visit "very young, very athletic men" at Boulder-area hotels. Maxcey denied the allegations, saying the calls were only to arrange liaisons for himself.