Four Vikings Charged In Sex Boat Party Incident

Prosecutors charged four Minnesota Vikings with three misdemeanors apiece in connection with a raucous boat party last fall on Lake Minnetonka. Daunte Culpepper, Bryant McKinnie, Fred Smoot and Moe Williams were charged with indecent conduct, disorderly conduct and lewd or lascivious conduct.From top, L-R: Daunte Culpepper, Bryant McKinnie, Fred Smoot and Moe WilliamsInvestigators spent hundreds of hours on the case, which grew out of an Oct. 6 party involving two chartered boats, Hennepin County Sheriff Pat McGowan said during a press conference. "There was no shortage of inappropriate behavior on both boats," McGowan said. McGowan said others on the boat engaged in criminal activity, but could not be identified by witnesses. The case remains under investigation, he said. None of the women on the boat could be identified, McGowan said. The crimes carry a maximum penalty of a $1,000 fine and 90 days in jail. The Hennepin County Sheriff's Office has scheduled a press conference at 1:30 p.m. to announce the charges.Coach Mike TiceVikings Coach Mike Tice said during noon press conference that any team action against players would not come unless and until there are criminal convictions. Tice cut off reporters' questions about the boat party. "I'm focused on Pittsburgh," Tice said, referring to the team's game Sunday against the Steelers at the Metrodome. The Hennepin County Sheriff's Department began investigating party after crewmembers from Al & Alma's Supper Club & Charter Cruises said through a lawyer they saw strippers and players involved in sex acts on the two chartered boats. At least 17 Vikings were among 90 people aboard the boats, the crew's attorney, Stephen Doyle, has said. However, not all of the players were involved in the alleged sex acts, Doyle said. Detectives had looked into whether players flew prostitutes from other states in for the party. And federal authorities reviewed the information to determine whether players violated the Mann Act, which forbids interstate transportation of anyone for immoral purposes. However, U.S. Attorney Thomas Heffelfinger said there was insufficient evidence to file federal charges.Clockwise, from top left, Daunte Culpepper, Moe Williams, Bryant McKinnie, Fred Smoot.