Ex-Student to be Arraigned in Sexual Assault Case

Published 4-2-09
http://www.doaneline.com/ex-student-to-be-arraigned-in-sexual-assault-case-1.1639675

Former Doane student Luke Reeves has been bound over to District Court in Wilber on a charge of first-degree sexual assault of a minor in connection with an incident that happened Nov. 15 in Burrage Hall, according to court records.

Saline County Court Judge J. Patrick McCardle on March 19 found probable cause during a preliminary hearing to bind the case over to District Court for trial. Reeves faces arraignment in District Court at 10:30 a.m. on April 20, though a request for a continuance until May 15 has been filed by his lawyer, Sean J. Brennan of Brennan & Nielsen Law Offices in Lincoln.

Under Nebraska's judicial system, district courts primarily hear all felony criminal cases, equity cases and civil cases involving more than $51,000. Sexual assault is a class II felony. According to Nebraska law, the sentencing judge considers whether the convicted person caused serious personal injury to the victim in reaching a decision on the sentence.

Reeves was arrested Nov. 17 after giving what Crete Police called "a voluntary verbal and written confession" to having sex with a female Doane College student at a party "after she told him she did not want to have sex," according to Saline County Court records. A separate charge of disturbing the peace was dismissed at Reeves’ preliminary hearing.

Safety Director Russ Hewitt declined to comment on the case. Neither Reeves nor Brennan could be reached for comment. Kim Jacobs, vice president for Enrollment Management and Student Leadership, confirmed that Reeves was no longer enrolled at Doane College.

According to a Crete police report, a Doane student was sexually assaulted on the night of Nov. 15, after the victim repeatedly told her assailant to stop. Two days later, the victim contacted the Crete Police Department to file a report about the incident.