Cody McDavis, a former college basketball player and attorney recognized for his efforts to combat gender-based violence, has been charged with multiple felony and misdemeanor counts related to alleged abuse and stalking of his girlfriend. The 32-year-old McDavis, who once received honors from former President Barack Obama, faces accusations that starkly contradict his public advocacy work.

According to a complaint filed on July 20 in Los Angeles County Superior Court, McDavis engaged in a yearlong campaign of harassment and violence against his girlfriend from July 2025 to June 2026. Prosecutors allege that McDavis "willfully, maliciously, and repeatedly" stalked and intimidated her, causing her to fear for her safety and that of her immediate family. The charges include three felony counts of inflicting corporal injury, two felony counts of stalking, and one felony count for attempting to prevent the victim from reporting the abuse. Additionally, three misdemeanor counts charge him with violating a protective order.

McDavis gained national attention for his activism against sexual and gender-based violence during and after his time as a student-athlete at the University of Northern Colorado. He later graduated from UCLA School of Law and became an associate at the Los Angeles firm Vedder Price. His advocacy work led to recognition from the Obama administration, including designation as a White House Champion of Change and participation in the “It’s On Us” campaign, which aimed to reduce sexual assaults on college campuses.

In 2019, McDavis was named an honoree at the Voices of Solidarity event honoring men who stand against gender-based violence. During his acceptance speech, he emphasized the challenges women face when speaking out, stating, "The women in here who are doing this incredible work are told and told and told we want to hear your voice, but when you start talking, you get shoved down. That makes me sick."

McDavis also petitioned the NCAA’s Power Five athletic conferences to institute bans on student-athletes with histories of violent behavior. His petition, which gathered more than 280,000 signatures, highlighted the prevalence of sexual violence in college sports. While the NCAA has not adopted the proposed rule, some individual institutions have enacted similar policies.

McDavis is scheduled to be arraigned on September 2, with bail recommended at $550,000. His attorney has not publicly commented on the charges at this time. The case presents a notable contrast between McDavis’s advocacy and the serious allegations facing him in court.