Rape reported at Longwood

Published 6:41 pm Tuesday, January 5, 2016

A special prosecutor is investigating an alleged rape on Longwood University’s campus during the New Year’s holiday.

No charges have been filed, said Patricia Scales, the special prosecutor investigating the incident who also serves as Cumberland County commonwealth’s attorney. “It’s still under investigation,” she said.

According to Longwood Police Department’s crime log, the rape allegedly occurred on Friday, Jan. 1, between 12:01 a.m. and 1:15 a.m. on campus. The document didn’t cite a specific location.

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The disposition of the case is pending, according to the police log.

On Friday morning, Longwood Vice President for Student Affairs Dr. Tim Pierson sent an email to university students, noting that “campus police and the Longwood Title IX office are investigating a report of a non-stranger sexual assault that allegedly occurred Thursday evening on campus.”

“Regarding the incident reported on Jan. 1, the police investigation has been completed and its findings have been referred to the Prince Edward commonwealth’s attorney,” said Longwood spokesman Matt McWilliams. “Due to student privacy laws, we can have no further comment at this time.”

According to Prince Edward Commonwealth’s Attorney Megan Clark, her office had a conflict of interest, which is why Scales is investigating the alleged incident.

“It’s Longwood’s investigation, but the special prosecutor who is advising them and, if any charges are brought forth who will handle the case, is Patricia Scales from Cumberland,” Clark said.

Scales said she didn’t know how long the investigation would take.