Police seeking felony charges for U-M graduate student accused in sexual assaults
From Facebook
A 31-year-old University of Michigan graduate student could soon be facing felony criminal sexual conduct charges for incidents involving three women at his Zaragon Place apartment, police said Thursday.
"The investigation is complete and (the case) has been submitted to the prosecutor's office," said Lt. Robert Pfannes of the Ann Arbor Police Department.
The case was sent to the Washtenaw County Prosecutor's Office for authorization within the last week, Pfannes added.
One incident is reported to have happened on Feb. 15, with the two others dating back to September 2012. The assaults were said to have occurred at the man's residence in the Zaragon Place Apartments, located 619 E. University Ave. They were not reported to police until Feb. 27, when the University of Michigan police issued a crime alert.
The three students told police they drank alcohol in the apartment and were subsequently assaulted, according to police. In two cases, the victims reported passing out then waking up during the assault.
The two earlier incidents didn't come to light until the third woman reported an assault to university officials in February. The first woman told a university official about it, but did not initially want to file a police report, AnnArbor.com previously reported.
The second woman did not report an assault to either university officials or police, though investigators were made aware of an incident involving her and the 31-year-old, according to police.
The man was a U-M graduate student at the time. His current status is unknown. The three women are also U-M students and are over the age of 18. Police would not release any other information about the suspect or victims.
John Counts covers cops and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at johncounts@annarbor.com or you can follow him on Twitter.
Comments
JRW
Fri, Jun 14, 2013 : 3:05 p.m.
If he is arrested, will we learn his name and see a photo?
John Counts
Fri, Jun 14, 2013 : 5:24 p.m.
glewe, we follow the same protocol on all crime stories as far as releasing names and booking pictures. Once a suspect is officially charged, it becomes part of the public record. Releasing the information at the time of arraignment is very common among news organizations and has been for a very long time.
glewe
Fri, Jun 14, 2013 : 4:41 p.m.
Sorry, John, but why when he is arrested? Why not when he is convicted? Or never?
John Counts
Fri, Jun 14, 2013 : 3:20 p.m.
If and when the prosecutor authorizes charges against the man, a warrant will be issued for his arrest. Only once a suspect is arrested and arraigned -- or formally charged -- is a name and a booking picture released to the public.
lorayn54
Fri, Jun 14, 2013 : 1:58 p.m.
I don't know the details regarding the delays in these cases, but I think it is a problem if these cases are not reported and bypass the legal system. I would be very interested in hearing more about why the university did not act in the first case.
lorayn54
Fri, Jun 14, 2013 : 6:45 p.m.
even if she did not want to press charges and it was off campus, the Cleary act is still relevant.
John Counts
Fri, Jun 14, 2013 : 3:27 p.m.
As is mentioned in an older story about this case, the first woman did not want to file a criminal police report. At that time, U-M police spokesperson Diane Brown pointed out that investigators cannot proceed without the willingness of the person reporting the crime. In short, there was nothing the university could do. alan is also correct. This is an Ann Arbor police case because the alleged incidents were not on campus. When interviewed for the last story, Brown said that all the proper reporting procedures were followed. U-M police issued a crime alert in February when the third woman filed a report. Investigators only learned of the other two previous incidents at that time.
alan
Fri, Jun 14, 2013 : 2:34 p.m.
Because they have no legal authority to investigate criminal complaints that occur off campus.
sheepyd
Fri, Jun 14, 2013 : 1:32 p.m.
There were several timely warnings put out about these incidents, shouldn't someone from AA.com respond to Trespass's comments when they are incorrect.
nickcarraweigh
Fri, Jun 14, 2013 : 1:26 p.m.
This will be a nasty case to take to trial. Plenty enough time between incidents and charges to make faulty memory by the victims a possible defense, and no mention of any physical evidence. The University's pussyfooting may have left the door open for the crime against the last victim. It's an expensive apartment, and if the defendant can afford adequate counsel he probably won't snap at a plea deal.
ThinkingOne
Fri, Jun 14, 2013 : 2:54 p.m.
According to the article, neither of the first 2 women involved came forward until after the 3rd made a complaint, I would be interested in an explanation for your conclusion that the university was 'pussyfooting' about something they were not aware of. "The two earlier incidents didn't come to light until the third woman reported an assault to university officials in February."
Ypsituckyguy
Fri, Jun 14, 2013 : 12:33 p.m.
Not to be the grammar police or anything but "The two incidents earlier incidents didn't come..." could use a little correction. Sorry John.
John Counts
Fri, Jun 14, 2013 : 12:46 p.m.
The extra word has been eliminated. Thanks.
sheepyd
Fri, Jun 14, 2013 : 12:09 p.m.
I recall several warnings going out from the University in January and February, if you recall AA.com was running stories in regards to the warnings.