Attorney Keith Murphy, representing Iowa State quarterback Hunter Dekkers, shared a statement on Tuesday evening pushing back on the improper gambling accusations and criminal charges Dekkers is facing stemming from an investigation into sports wagering among Cyclone athletes. The statement, shared on Twitter, maintains that Dekkers is innocent and looks forward to clearing his name.
The criminal charge, which is for “tampering with records related to” the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation’s inquiry into gambling at Iowa State, potentially stems from Dekkers using an online betting account under one of his parents names. The statement from his attorney says the criminal charge is an attempt to “criminalize a daily fact of American life.”
It added that Dekkers won’t participate in fall football camp with Iowa State so he can “focus on his studies and on the defense of this criminal charge.”
“This charge attempts to criminalize a daily fact of American life. Millions of people share online accounts of all kinds every day,” Murphy said.
It went on, stating the charge interferes with business of Iowa State and the NCAA and also politicizing it. It went to argue that the investigations at Iowa State and Iowa are the “tip of an iceberg” and that thousands of other bets are placed by athletes on shared accounts around the country.
The statement acknowledge the investigation has been ongoing since may and revealed that investigators from the state of Iowa executed search warrants both for Dekkers’ apartment in Ames and the families home in Iowa.
“The investigation has been an immense distraction from Hunter’s ability to be a good student and a great teammate. Hunter greatly appreciates the cooperation and support of Iowa State University and Coach [Matt] Campbell and his staff during these events,” the statement said.
Dekkers’ parents are apparently involved in the ordeal
Dekkers was apparently not the only person in his family involved in his alleged betting on Cyclones sporting events, including a football game in 2021. According to a criminal complaint filed in local court by prosecutor’s, Dekkers used an account under his parents names, according to Jeff Dubrof of KCCI.
By using an online betting account apparently set up by his parents, Jami and Scott Dekkers, Dekkers effectively hid a lot of his bets from regulators. It created the appearance that the bets placed by Dekkers were actually placed by his mother, Jami.
He has been charged by local prosecutors with “tampering with records related to” the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation’s inquiry into improper gambling at Iowa State, according to the Des Moines Register. That charge is a misdemeanor. According to the complaint filed in court, Dekkers bet on a 2021 football game against Oklahoma State when he was the backup quarterback for the Cyclones.
Along with that bet, he allegedly placed 25 other bets on Iowa State sporting events. The DraftKings account allegedly completed upwards of 350 sports wagers totalling more than $2,799.
Dekkers, the Iowa State starting quarterback in 2022, would permanently lose eligibility under NCAA guidelines for betting.
Dekkers was already apparently involved in the ongoing gambling probe, but Campbell was mum about it at Big 12 Media Days in July.
“That investigation is ongoing and continues to not have a lot clarity to it,” Campbell said when addressing Dekkers’ status.