Chris Solari

Detroit Free Press

EAST LANSING — Auston Robertson is in custody on charges in the rape of a woman in her apartment, according to police.

Meridian Township Police posted a message on their Facebook page late Friday night asking the public for help in trying to locate the former Michigan State football player. The department posted Sunday morning that Robertson had been apprehended. There was no immediate word when or where he was taken into custody.

The 19-year-old from Ft. Wayne, Ind., faces a charge of third-degree criminal sexual conduct. Robertson faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted. His bond has been set at $75,000, though he had not yet been arraigned as of Sunday afternoon according to 55th District Court online records. Messages to a Meridian Township Police spokesman were not returned.

Robertson had walked the woman to her apartment sometime after 11 p.m. on April 8 to make sure she got there safely, and then once they were inside the apartment he "forcefully" had sex with the woman despite her "telling him to stop and telling him no," Meridian Township Police Detective Rebecca Payne testified during a hearing Friday morning.

The incident that led to charges against Robertson is separate from the ongoing criminal investigation into three other unnamed MSU players and a staff member who the university announced were suspended Feb. 9. That case remains under review by the Ingham County Prosecutor’s Office.

MSU coach Mark Dantonio, in a statement released Friday afternoon by the university, said he has dismissed Robertson. A university spokesman said he remains a student.

“The criminal sexual conduct charges announced today against Auston Robertson are of the most serious nature,” Dantonio said. “Sexual assault has no place in our community. While there is an ongoing criminal process, we’re extremely disappointed that Auston put himself in this position. He is no longer a member of our football program.”

Neither Robertson nor Ingham County Prosecutor Carol Siemon returned messages seeking comment.

The 6-foot-4, 281-pound Robertson, who was a four-star recruit, played seven games as a true freshman for the Spartans during the 2016 season. He made three tackles and forced a fumble. Robertson also played defensive end during MSU’s spring game April 1.

Contact Chris Solari: csolari@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @chrissolari. Download our Spartans Xtra app for free on Apple and Android devices!