Yaasmeen Piper
Editor-in-Chief
A 20-year-old woman was allegedly choked and raped in Hawthorne Suites on Oct. 12, according to news reports.
According to the WFMZ news site, the woman allegedly spotted 19-year-old Brandon Lee Sheffield at a house party.
WFMZ states that the woman told police that Sheffield, whose address is listed in court filings as Lincoln University, in Chester County, seemed “extremely intoxicated” and “barely able to stand on his own,” so she and another woman walked him back to his dorm in Hawthorn.
When she tried to leave, Sheffield allegedly began groping her then held her down on his bed and choked and raped her, the site states.
WFMZ also states that police say Sheffield sent SnapChat messages to the woman the next morning in which he apologized.
However, he also stated that was extremely drunk that night and could barely remember anything, but believed the sex was consensual.
Sheffield is currently in Monroe County Prison, unable to make bail, according to online court filings.
He faces rape, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, aggravated indecent assault, and indecent assault charges, according to the filings.
“East Stroudsburg University police department continues to assist the Pennsylvania State Police on this investigation, as per University protocol,” ESU told the Stroud Courier in an official statement.
“The safety of our students, faculty, staff, and visitors is a top priority for ESU, as this investigation continues, University Police would like to remind everyone within our campus community of the safety and security initiatives we have in place and to be aware of offerings such as the LiveSafe app and other safety tips that may be found at esu.edu/university_police/safety_tips”
ESU Junior Airyanna Elkins said she found out about the alleged rape through a Facebook article shared by university alumni.
“My first reaction was anger,” she said. “The fact that I had to hear about it through an outside source rather than the university itself, without zero warning, really made me mad. It makes me worried. Who knows how many rapists we have on this campus.”
According to campus police, this is an ongoing investigation.
Email Yaasmeen at:
ypiper@live.esu.edu
