South Sound News

Women file civil complaint against former Federal Way basketball star

FEDERAL WAY, Wash. — A civil complaint has been filed against a well-known former Federal Way high school basketball player.

Two women said he filmed them taking part in sex acts and sent the videos around the school.

“It almost made us take our lives and, I think, he just really needs to understand that,” said Gwen Gabert.

Gabert and Tally Thomas said they've gone through more than most can imagine over the past two years.

"This has been the hardest thing I've ever been through in my life,” said Thomas.

The two women said their lives changed forever in 2016, when they were seniors at Federal Way High School.

Gabert is suing Jalen McDaniels, a star basketball player from Federal Way. He now plays for San Diego State University.

Scroll down to continue reading

More news from KIRO 7

DOWNLOAD OUR FREE NEWS APP

"He's just living his life and he's thriving in California and he's playing basketball, where Tally and I are still suffering,” said Gabert.

Gabert said she was intimate with McDaniels in January 2016. According to the complaint, he violated her privacy by recording and sending out a video she didn't know was being taken.

She reported the incident to the Federal Way Police Department in April 2016.

"I was barely 18, I mean, I'm still. That's not something you want to talk about. It made me uncomfortable, it made me feel like I was a slut and I was a whore and I shouldn't have done that,” said Gabert.

The complaint also said McDaniels admitted to recording a sex video of Thomas and sent it out.

“He was hiding in a closet and I didn't know anyone else was in the house,” she said.

Jeremy Warren, the attorney representing McDaniels, said, “these allegations were investigated by the police repeatedly over the last three years. The King County Prosecutor's Office declined to press charges. Jalen is a young man who's focused on his studies and will respond through the court system."

Warren said McDaniels has not admitted or denied the incident occurred.

KIRO 7 reached out to the King County Prosecutor’s Office to ask about the case. Officials said the case was submitted for consideration for charges of voyeurism. Upon review of the investigation conducted by the Federal Way Police Department, it was determined there is not sufficient evidence to support the filing of a criminal charge.