Prosecuting attorney reviewing report on Southeast campus sexual assault

The Cape Girardeau County Prosecuting Attorney’s office is reviewing information in a report of a sexual assault at Southeast Missouri State University that occurred early Sept. 16, according to Prosecuting Attorney Chris Limbaugh.

In particular, Limbaugh said his office is waiting for laboratory results on forensic evidence in the case. Charges and an arrest warrant have not yet been filed.

The university placed a suspected student on interim suspension, according to a letter from university president Carlos Vargas-Aburto.

“There are still some things to consider,” Limbaugh said.

The Southeast Missouri State University Department of Public Safety investigated the sexual-assault report from Sept. 16 and is preparing to file information with the prosecuting attorney’s office Monday on another sexual-assault report from February, according to interim director of public safety Beth Glaus.

Glaus said a female victim was assaulted by two suspects — once on campus in February by another Southeast student and off-campus in September 2015. The student reported the alleged assaults to the DPS on Oct. 3, Glaus said.

Cape Girardeau Police Department public information officer Richard McCall said the victim did not report the off-campus incident to Cape Girardeau police; she was advised to do by the department of public safety.

Glaus said the victim knew her attackers, and because of the isolated nature of these incidents, the student population does not face any immediate danger.

bkleine@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3644

Pertinent address:

1401 N. Sprigg St., Cape Girardeau, Mo.