Byron Scott, a former star player for the Los Angeles Lakers, is facing serious allegations of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl in 1987 during a team event at Campbell Hall School in Los Angeles. The claims emerged from a lawsuit filed by Hayley Dylan, who was known as Hayley Mendell at the time of the incident.
The lawsuit outlines a troubling episode that took place when Scott, then 26 and in the midst of his NBA career, was filming a basketball instructional video. Dylan, a student attending a summer math class, was allegedly isolated by Scott as he invited her to lunch and then offered a tour of the school’s facilities. The incident escalated when he reportedly locked her in a janitor’s closet, where he is accused of assaulting her.
Dylan asserts in her lawsuit that Scott pressured her into performing sexual acts against her will. After the incident, he allegedly attempted to silence her by providing Lakers merchandise and discouraged her from disclosing what had occurred.
Scott, who is now 64, acknowledges some form of sexual contact but maintains that he believed Dylan was over 18 years old at the time. His attorney stated that Scott was unaware of Dylan’s age until decades later and emphasized that he respects women and is taken aback by the claims.
At the time of the alleged assault, Scott was married to Anita Scott, with whom he later divorced in 2014.
This situation underscores the complexities and difficulties surrounding cases of historical abuse, highlighting the struggles victims often face in coming forward with their stories. While it can be a painful process, it is crucial for victims to seek justice and for society to address these serious allegations with the gravity they deserve.