Wednesday, December 12th 2012, 5:48 pm
An Oklahoma State University student and former fraternity member accused of sexually assaulting other students is now facing felony charges.
Court records show Nathan Michael Cochran, 22, was charged Wednesday with three counts of sexual battery in a Payne County courtroom.
Cochran was a member of the FarmHouse fraternity at OSU. He was also elected Secretary of the Inter fraternity Council in 2012, according to a cached version of the IFC's web site.
After several allegations of sexual assault were made to OSU officials, they held a student conduct hearing and found Cochran responsible for violating the student conduct code, by sexual misconduct.
12/11/2012 Related Story: OSU: Privacy Law Prevented Disclosing Sexual Assault Allegations To Police
The university said there were as many as five alleged victims.
Affidavits say two young men claim Cochran sexually battered them while they were asleep.
According to court records, one victim said Cochran stayed in his dorm room on August 15, 2012, saying he was drunk and didn't want to drive home. The man claimed he woke up around 4 a.m. to Cochran fondling him on the outside of his clothing. When he woke up enough to realize what was happening, he said Cochran was attempting to put his hands under his clothes, the affidavit states. According to the affidavit, the alleged victim got up and went into the bathroom until Cochran left the room.
The affidavit lists text messages allegedly sent from Cochran to the complainant moments later, claiming he was drunk and didn't realize what he was doing.
"Well delete these text and just say I left after I charged my phone and we won't have an issue? [Alleged victim's name].. Please I can't ruin my life cause I was black out drunk and ****** up. Just text me?" one text read, according to the affidavit.
Another 23-year-old alleged victim claimed he was watching a movie with Cochran on the night of November 3, 2011, when he fell asleep, then woke up to Cochran fondling him under his pants, the affidavit states.
According to the affidavit, the man said he thought if he didn't respond, Cochran would stop, but he did not. Cochran allegedly went on to perform oral sex on the man, among other things.
Eventually, the affidavit says, Cochran stopped and left the room. The affiant said he was not in a relationship with Cochran and the contact was not consensual, according to the affidavit.
Two of the counts of sexual battery are based on that affiant's statement.
The results of the university's investigation and the conduct hearing were released and turned over to police Tuesday evening.
Cochran was suspended from the university for three years and ordered not to contact the alleged victims.
He now has a warrant out for his arrest out of Payne County. His bond has been set at $100,000.
December 12th, 2012
September 29th, 2024
September 17th, 2024
November 17th, 2024
November 17th, 2024
November 17th, 2024
November 17th, 2024