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From this article, it currently appears that Heiar may not have ever been made aware of the sexual assault/battery incidents within the team. Not that it fully absolves him as the HC should have a greater knowledge of what's going on and his assistants let him and the entire program down. I'm basing this on the fact that he doesn't appear to be mentioned in the lawsuit filed by Deuce Benjamin and another player. Time will tell if Heiar gets sucked into this at some point, but as of now, he doesn't seem to have any direct knowledge of what was going on.
This is one of those stories that may be interesting to follow through the legal process.
ESPN - Former NMSU players file suit alleging sexual assault by teammates
This is one of those stories that may be interesting to follow through the legal process.
ESPN - Former NMSU players file suit alleging sexual assault by teammates
The lawsuit was filed by Deuce Benjamin and another player who said three teammates forced them to pull their pants down below their ankles, then assaulted them. The Associated Press normally does not name people who say they were sexually assaulted, but Benjamin had earlier referenced the alleged assaults while announcing his departure from the team on social media.
Chancellor Dan Arvizu canceled the season in February after Benjamin took his allegations to school police. Arvizu framed the allegations as stemming from a hazing episode. The civil lawsuit, filed in district court in Las Cruces, New Mexico, takes issue with that description, saying, "when the behavior goes too far, and crosses the line into nonconsensual touching, it is not mere hazing; it is battery and sexual assault."
The lawsuit lists as defendants the NMSU board of regents, two former members of the coaching staff and three former players. It seeks "amounts to reasonably compensate" the plaintiffs for their damages, as well as punitive damages. One count in the lawsuit alleges sexual assault, battery and false imprisonment.
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The lawsuit says that when the player whose name the AP is not using first approached an assistant coach about the assaults, the coach reacted by laughing and saying, "What do you want me to do about it?" It says the player discussed the assaults three times with another coach, who "said that he was looking into it and would issue some suspensions," but no action was taken.
Chancellor Dan Arvizu canceled the season in February after Benjamin took his allegations to school police. Arvizu framed the allegations as stemming from a hazing episode. The civil lawsuit, filed in district court in Las Cruces, New Mexico, takes issue with that description, saying, "when the behavior goes too far, and crosses the line into nonconsensual touching, it is not mere hazing; it is battery and sexual assault."
The lawsuit lists as defendants the NMSU board of regents, two former members of the coaching staff and three former players. It seeks "amounts to reasonably compensate" the plaintiffs for their damages, as well as punitive damages. One count in the lawsuit alleges sexual assault, battery and false imprisonment.
.....
The lawsuit says that when the player whose name the AP is not using first approached an assistant coach about the assaults, the coach reacted by laughing and saying, "What do you want me to do about it?" It says the player discussed the assaults three times with another coach, who "said that he was looking into it and would issue some suspensions," but no action was taken.
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