2 men charged with rape of student at Eastern University in Delaware County
Dontae Williams and Chase Thompson are accused of raping the student in a dorm room while she was passed out after a night of drinking.
Two men have been charged in the sexual assault of a student at Eastern University inside a dorm room earlier this year, Delaware County District Attorney Tanner Rouse announced Thursday.
Dontae Williams, who turns 20 on Friday, and Chase Thompson, 19, surrendered to Radnor Township police on Thursday to face charges of rape of unconscious person and related offenses. Bail was set at $150,000 unsecured for both men.
The assaults allegedly occurred in the Kea Hall residence of Naeem Turner, a friend of the victim, Rouse said. Turner was issued a summons to appear in court on three counts of invasion of privacy for allegedly recording video of the victim.
Robert C. Keller, a lawyer representing Williams, said his client “has been cooperating since the beginning.”
Keller said he will review the criminal case against Williams and pursue an appropriate defense.
No lawyers could be identified Thursday evening for the other two men.
Eastern University, a private Christian institution located in St. Davids, said in an emailed statement Thursday evening:
“Student safety remains our highest priority. Sexual assault is not tolerated at Eastern University. The University took this incident very seriously, acting swiftly and fully cooperating with the Radnor Police Department throughout their investigation.”
Eastern University continued: “We are grieved by this situation and the impact it has had on those involved. As a Christian university, we are committed to the safety and well-being of our students.”
The university said Naeem Turner was no longer enrolled at Eastern.
On Feb. 1, Radnor Township police responded to Eastern University for a report of a rape, Rouse said. The officers met with the student, who said that after a night out drinking, she reached out to Turner, her friend.
Turner said he had cousins visiting his dorm room, but she could come over, the police criminal complaint said.
The student, who already was intoxicated, arrived at Turner’s residence and was given Tequila to drink, the complaint said. The student then said she fell asleep.
She was then allegedly sexually assaulted by Williams and Thompson, the complaint said.
Investigators collected DNA evidence that matched both men, the complaint said.
Turner had recorded video of himself engaged in sexual activity with the student and twice the victim is seen pushing the phone camera away and indicating that she did not want to be recorded, the complaint said.
Turner, who was not charged with rape or any other assaults, said he had consensual sex with the victim, the complaint said.
The student said she did not remember having consensual sex with Turner and that she did not consent to being recorded, the complaint said.
Turner later allegedly sent two video clips to a contact on his phone, the complaint said.
“This incident is an appalling violation of a person’s safety, dignity, and trust,” Rouse said in statement.
“No one should ever have to fear being sexually assaulted by someone they know, and especially not by someone they consider a friend. It can be frightening to come forward after an experience like this, and we commend the victim for having the courage to report what happened,” Rouse said.
“Sexual violence is never acceptable, and my heart goes out to a young woman that will live with this trauma for the rest of her life. No one should have to fear that someone they trust will violate their safety or boundaries. There will be accountability,” Rouse said.
