Lawyer: Escort unlikely to talk with NCAA without immunity

The attorney for Katina Powell says his client is unlikely to cooperate with authorities and the National Collegiate Athletic Association unless she receives immunity for her allegations that a former University of Louisville men's basketball staffer hired her and other dancers to strip and have sex with recruits and players.

Larry Wilder, the attorney from Jeffersonville, said in a radio interview Tuesday with Louisville's ESPN 680 that there's no guarantee that criminal charges will result from any of the investigations. But when asked whether Powell would talk with the governing body about her allegations, Wilder said that wasn't likely unless she had some protection from prosecution.

"She can't do that unless we have assurances that there will not be a pursuit of criminal charges against her, based upon the information," Wilder said.

Four investigations are ongoing as a result of Powell's allegations that Andre McGee paid her $10,000 for 22 shows from 2010-14. One investigation is being conducted by the NCAA and another joint effort involving the Louisville campus police, Louisville Metro Police and the Commonwealth's Attorney's Office.

The University of Louisville Foundation hired a law firm to review the allegations. The athletic department launched its investigation immediately after being notified about the allegations in August.

Powell said during an appearance Friday with daughters Lindsay and Rod Ni on ABC's "The View" that she tried to contact the NCAA this spring about her allegations in her book, "Breaking Cardinal Rules: Basketball and the Escort Queen," but was hung up on. Wilder reiterated what Powell said happened, and suggested that was one of the factors behind her writing the book.

The book was published by the Indianapolis Business Journal's sister company, IBJ Book Publishing. Indiana Lawyer is a sister publication to the IBJ.

The Indianapolis-based NCAA last week told The Associated Press via email in response to Powell's comment that "as with any potential rule violation, we welcome a conversation with anyone who has information."

Wilder's taped interview comes on a day that University of Louisville President James Ramsey told students in a letter that the school is reviewing Powell's allegations "as one university — not an isolated athletic issue."

Ramsey urged the university community earlier this month to continue moving forward and continued that theme on Tuesday.

The president said: "We do not know the timing of the findings that will be forthcoming from this report, but (investigator) Chuck (Smrt) has been working with the NCAA in a process that is both deliberate and thorough."