Wisconsin Football Legend Arrested On Disturbing Charges

Tom Burke, a former All-American defensive end for Wisconsin football, has been arrested after being accused of sexual misconduct by a seven-year old girl. The girl has accused him of doing so at least five times, per reports.

Burke has reportedly said that he is a “caretaker” for the girl that has made the pretty heinous allegations against him. He flatly denies them though, saying that he is being “railroaded,” per TMZ, which acquired court documents.

Burke faces a felony criminal sexual conduct charge after the girl’s allegations. He had his first hearing on Monday, and will be back in court in early July, per the report. He could face anywhere from 12 to 30 years in prison if found guilty, according to various reports.

The accusations were first made on Feb. 21, after the girl told her mother about the sexual misconduct. “The victim, who was known to Burke, reportedly indicated that Burke had been performing oral sex on her,” the Duluth News Tribune reports.

Burke’s bail was set at $100,000 by the Minnesota judge presiding over the case. Burke was previously convicted on a misdemeanor battery charge back in 2008, though that appears to be his only criminal history.

Tom Burke was a standout for the Badgers from 1995-98, winning Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year as a senior, after recording 22 sacks on the year, a conference record. He took home the Bill Willis Trophy as college football’s best defensive lineman that year. The Arizona Cardinals took him in the third round of the 1999 NFL Draft. He played in 36 games total through the 2002 NFL season, finishing his career with 4.5 sacks.

Burke was inducted into the University of Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame just last year. We’ll have more on the case as it progresses this summer.

[Duluth News Tribune]

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