October 5, 2016

Man arrested in connection with sexual assault

Cheng Li

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue University police arrested a man shortly after 5 a.m. Wednesday (Oct. 5) in relation to a sexual assault that occurred Tuesday (Oct. 4) evening.

Cheng Li, 28, a postdoctoral research associate in Purdue’s Department of Food Science from the Henan Province in China, was taken to Tippecanoe County Jail around 5:10 a.m. and faces preliminary charges of criminal confinement and sexual battery. Li is currently incarcerated on a no-bond hold pending his appearance before a judge.

According to police, Li and the victim, who is a Purdue undergraduate international student, were acquainted. The victim told police she met Li on a chat app and they met outside her apartment building sometime around 8 p.m. Tuesday. At one point, Li followed the victim into her apartment where he confined and sexually battered her before leaving. The victim did not sustain any physical injuries.

Police located Li at his West Lafayette residence around 4 a.m., and he was questioned by investigators before being charged and transported to the Tippecanoe County Jail.

Sexual battery and criminal confinement are both level 6 felonies that carry a maximum penalty of 2½ years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

The fact a person has been arrested or charged with a crime is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law. 

Source: John Cox, Purdue police chief, jkcox@purdue.edu


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