Two days before the 2006 NFL draft, former Penn State football player Scott Paxson's father defended his son, saying his sexual assault charges are lies and threatening to take legal action against both the Centre County District Attorney's office and the alleged victim.

In a telephone interview yesterday, Jeffrey Paxson said he blames the district attorney's office for prosecuting his son, who is accused of having nonconsensual sex with and finger-penetrating a former Penn State student without consent in December 2004. Scott Paxson faces charges of aggravated indecent assault and indecent assault. A former charge of sexual assault was dropped April 13.

Jeffrey Paxson said documents were hidden from District Attorney Michael Madeira when he made the decision to prosecute Scott Paxson. He added that his son was already cleared through Penn State's Office of Judicial Affairs last year.

Madeira declined to comment yesterday, saying that unless the Paxsons file charges, there is nothing to comment on. Assistant District Attorney Lance Marshall, who is handling the case, was out of the office for the week and unable to comment, Madeira said.

"As a father, I'm watching my son's future drift away due to something that could have easily been controlled if you had a DA that just did his job," Jeffrey Paxson said, adding that the sexual encounter in question was consensual.

Chuck Abel, Scott Paxson's agent, said the allegations might bump his value down for the upcoming draft. Most likely, Abel said, he will be an undrafted free agent and still play in the NFL this season.

"I don't believe he's going to be drafted where he should have been," Abel said.

Jeffrey Paxson said although his family will hope for draft results, he thinks "that childhood dream is gone." He said he is confident his son will be cleared of all charges.

When asked about Paxson's draft status, NFL scout Dan Shonka said that he didn't know about the allegations but that Paxson would probably be left out of the draft because of the charges.

Abel said the charges are a detriment to Paxson's football career.

"No team wants to explain why one of its draft picks has a sexual assault charge hanging over his head," he said.

Collegian Staff Writer Josh Moyer contributed to this report.