Purdue News

October 10, 2000 Purdue police: sexual battery and battery cases were false WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue University police, investigating a sexual battery against a female student and a separate battery reported by a male student, have determined that neither incident last month occurred as initially reported. Ron Fosnaugh, captain of special services, said police were informed of the sexual battery that reportedly occurred on the evening of Sept. 10 in a university residence hall. After subsequent interviews, the victim recanted, saying that what she initially reported as a sexual battery in reality was consensual. On Oct. 3, the woman was arrested on a warrant from Tippecanoe County Court II on a charge of false reporting, which is a Class A misdemeanor, punishable by a jail term of up to a year and/or a fine of up to $5,000. She was released from jail on a $250 cash bond that evening and faces a court appearance. The second case stemmed from an early-morning incident on Sept. 24. A male student reported being attacked near Recitation Hall by two male assailants while sitting with a female friend. Fosnaugh said an investigation led police to determine that it may have been a "mutual combatant" situation. That case has been forwarded to the prosecutor's office for review. Source: Ron Fosnaugh, (765) 494-8221; rjfosnaugh@purdue.edu Writer: Greg Zawisza, (765) 494-2086; home, (765) 463-9119; gzawisza@purdue.edu Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu To the Purdue News and Photos Page