ATHENS, Ga. — Athens police said they have made an arrest in the possible sex assault investigation involving a University of Georgia student.
Police said they have arrested Timothy Evans, 49, of Athens, and he is currently being charged with financial transaction card theft, financial transaction card fraud, and identity fraud in connection with the case.
Athens-Clarke County Police say a woman reported a possible sex crime overnight Thursday into Friday near City Hall.
Officers picked up the report at a hospital Friday morning, and detectives are now questioning one person of interest.
“I mean, it’s terrible. I’ve heard of stories like that happening a lot in college towns like this,” said UGA student Alesso Matthews.
The victim told officers the last thing she remembers is being with friends at a downtown bar around 11:30 p.m.
She said she woke up in the dark on cardboard boxes at the top of the city hall stairs.
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She told officers an unknown man was behind her within arm’s reach, and she walked away disoriented with her skirt inside out.
Some students said they worry about how others can take advantage of how comfortable students feel at the start of the school year.
“It’s kind of a known thing. They’re like, ‘Oh, no one here is going to hurt you, just everyone’s students here,’” said UGA senior Niha Pathak.
Officers wrote it up as sexual battery and UGA’s alert to students called it a possible sexual assault.
The university is working with the student and her family and points students toward its discounted late-night Lyft program.
“Even if you’re a guy or a girl, anything can happen to you,” Pathak said.