Editor’s Note: This story includes mention of sexual violence or assault. Resources are available below.
The IU Police Department arrested an IU student Aug. 21 on three counts of sexual battery for incidents that allegedly occurred during Welcome Week in Willkie South.
IUPD Public Information Officer Hannah Skibba said in an email that her department received three reports of fondling that occurred Aug. 21 at Willkie South. The suspect, Jackson Arnold, was interviewed by IUPD and arrested on three counts of sexual battery.
According to a probable cause affidavit, IUPD officers met with three students around 2:30 a.m. Aug. 21 in response to a sexual battery report Aug.21. One of the students told officers that she and her friends were repeatedly touched inappropriately by Arnold after meeting him at a block party in the McNutt Quadrangle.
The student told officers that Arnold unexpectedly got into the same Uber ride as her, and that she was alone with him for a few minutes in an undisclosed dorm before more people arrived. She told officers that Arnold made her feel uncomfortable, touching her under the breast and on the side of her thigh. She told officers she wanted to press charges.
The students told officers they attempted to get Arnold to leave the dorm, but he did not, so they decided to leave instead. They said Arnold followed them after they left. According to the probable cause affidavit, he then insisted on walking one of the students home, despite her attempts to refuse. She said, while they were walking, Arnold touched her breasts and put his hands down her pants. She told officers she wanted to press charges as well.
Another student told officers Arnold slapped her buttocks while they were in her dorm room.
Officers then located Arnold in his dorm around 3:53 a.m., and he was transported to the IUPD station. Officers said in the PC affidavit they noticed his breath had a strong odor of alcohol. He was subsequently given a breathalyzer test, which showed he had a blood alcohol concentration of 0.153% BAC.
In Indiana, individuals under 21 are subject to a Class C misdemeanor for knowingly consuming an alcoholic beverage.
Arnold admitted to touching one of the girls’ buttocks but claimed it was accidental, according to the PC affidavit. He also admitted he had “too many contacts” with another girl and touched her because he was worried that she was too intoxicated.
Camera footage captured Arnold touching one of the girls’ buttocks as they walked out of the undisclosed location.
Officers then transferred Arnold to the Monroe County Jail, where he was charged with sexual battery, a Level 6 felony, and a Class C misdemeanor for illegal consumption.
An initial hearing for Arnold’s case is scheduled for Oct. 28.
This part of year is known as the Red Zone, a period from the start of the fall semester to Thanksgiving break when students, especially freshmen, are at a higher risk for sexual assaults. More than 50% of sexual assaults are statistically found to occur during this time. One rape and five sexual batteries have been reported on campus since Aug. 19.
According to IU’s 2023 Security and Public Safety Report, there were 38 rapes reported on IU Bloomington’s campus and five rapes reported off-campus in 2022. Off-campus cases include incidents that occurred at any building or property owned or controlled by a student organization, buildings owned or controlled by an institution directly supporting IU’s educational purposes and properties frequently used by students not within the geographic area of the institution. Off-campus incidents also include incidents occurring on public property within or immediately adjacent to campus.
In the same year, there were 35 cases of fondling, defined as the non-consensual touching of private body parts of another person for the purpose of sexual gratification, reported on Bloomington’s campus, with an additional two occurring off-campus.
These numbers are a marked increase from previous years. In 2021, there were a combined 31 cases of rape and 21 cases of fondling on and off-campus. In 2020, there were 25 reports of rape and seven reports of fondling, although on-campus instruction paused mid-March that year due to the pandemic and did not resume until the fall.
Despite these numbers, more than 90% of sexual assault victims on college campuses do not report their assaults, according to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center.
Resources
Sexual assault on an IU campus can be reported through this online form.
IU’s Confidential Victim Advocates are trained to work with students who have experienced sexual misconduct. They can be contacted by calling 812-856-2469 or emailing cva@indiana.edu. The Office for Sexual Violence Prevention and Victim Advocacy is on the third floor of the Student Health Center at 600 N. Eagleson Ave.
The IU Sexual Assault Crisis Service operates 24/7 connecting students with counselors. They can be reached at 812-855-8900. Their office is on the fourth floor of the Student Health Center at 600 N. Eagleson Ave.
IUPD’s non-emergency number: 812-855-4111
BPD’s non-emergency number: 812-339-4477
National Sexual Assault Hotline: 800-656-4673
National Domestic Abuse Hotline: 800-799-7233
Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: 988
The Middle Way House works to support survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and human trafficking. They have a help and crisis line at 812-336-0846.
To obtain a protective order after experiencing domestic violence or sexual abuse, Monroe County has a Protective Order Assistance Partnership.
The Monroe County Victims Assistance Program provides assistance for crime victims in understanding how their case progresses through the justice system.
