Recently, a University of Michigan student reported to police that she was sexually assaulted in the West Quadrangle residence hall at the university. The assault allegedly occurred on January 13 by a man the victim said she had met at an off-campus party.
Police said the suspect walked the victim to her residence at around 1:00 a.m. to 1:30 a.m. on Sunday morning; according to Heritage Newspaper, the man then assaulted the woman at the residence hall in a common area on the lower level.
News reports describe the suspect as an Asian man with short, dark hair who stands about 5′ 6″ to 5′ 8″ tall. University of Michigan Police crime alert describes the man as thin built, wearing a white t-shirt, black pants, and a royal blue top over the t-shirt.
The day after the alleged sexual assault, two video clips and a still photo were released by U of M police, showing the suspect as he approached a door to exit the residence hall. He then turned around when the door would not allow him to leave, which placed him facing the security camera. The man then walked away; a second video clip shows the suspect near the same door he attempted to exit, walking down a flight of stairs.
Michigan sex crimes defense attorneys know that there are many individuals sitting behind bars today for crimes they were falsely accused of. While we don’t know any of the details regarding what allegedly happened in this case, it is clear that the woman had become acquainted with the man at an off-campus party before returning to the residence hall.
We cannot say what happened in this situation until further evidence is revealed. However, there are many times that young people meet at parties, consume a substantial amount of alcohol, and do things they otherwise would not do, including having sex with those they are not well acquainted with. Individuals can easily be accused of sex crimes even when the alleged victim was a willing participant.
If you or someone you know has been arrested for or charged with a sex-related offense, contact an aggressive Michigan sex crimes lawyer right away to protect your legal rights and freedom.