Update, May 2, 5:34 p.m.
SAC.Media spoke to Director of Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Programs & Title IX Coordinator Sokha Song about the about the incident. “Both the victim and the accused are protected unless the victim chooses to go forward,” Song said.
When SAC.Media asked why the identity of the assailant was not released, Song also referred to Education Code 67380, which states: “If the victim does not consent to being identified, the alleged assailant shall not be identified in the information disclosed to the local law enforcement agency.”
In response to why the campus was not notified via a campus alert through public safety or marketing, Song said, “When you’re dealing with posting information, the purpose is because we are looking for individuals that are dealing with the alleged crime that is active. It would have to be something active.
Song also said in response to whether or not the individual is still affiliated with the campus that the individual used to be but no longer is. Song also determined that the individual was no longer a clear and present danger because they are not involved with the campus anymore.
Song also said that Title lX protocol is to notify public safety and local law enforcement. SAC.Media spoke with the Walnut-Diamond Bar Sheriff’s Department who stated that they had no report of rape during the time period of the incident.
Update, April 24, 11:30 a.m.
SAC.Media spoke with Ryan Wilson, Manager, Title IX/EEO Investigations at Mt. SAC regarding the rape report. Wilson said the victim did not consent to being identified, therefore, “we cannot disclose identifying information of the alleged suspect.” SAC.Media asked if the assailant is a student, faculty member, staff member, or an individual not related to this campus and if they have been identified. Wilson offered this statement:
California Education Code 67383 requires any report of a Part 1 violent crime, sexual assault, or hate crime, committed on or off campus, received by a campus security authority, as defined pursuant to Section 668.46 of Title 34 of the Code of Federal Regulations, as that section existed on May 15, 2014, and made by the victim for purposes of notifying the institution or law enforcement, is immediately, or as soon as practicably possible, forwarded to the appropriate law enforcement agency. The report shall be forwarded to the appropriate law enforcement agency without identifying the victim, unless the victim consents to being identified after the victim has been informed of his or her right to have his or her personally identifying information withheld. The appropriate law enforcement agency shall be a campus law enforcement agency if one has been established on the campus where the report was made. California Education Code 67380 further states that if the victim does not consent to being identified, the alleged assailant shall not be identified in the information disclosed.
In regards to the assailant posing a threat to the college, and the student body not being notified of the rape, Wilson said the individual is no longer affiliated with Mt. SAC and therefore does not represent a serious or ongoing threat to the safety of the campus.
Update, April 23, 2:16 p.m.
SAC.Media spoke with Mt. SAC Chief of Police Michael C. Williams. Williams said that he had as much information as was reported on the crime log. The crime log stated on February 15 that “Police and Campus Safety were advised a rape was reported by a vict who wished to remain anonymous.” According to Williams, the victim reported the crime directly to Ryan Wilson, Mt. SAC Title lX/EEO Investigations manager at Mt. SAC. Wilson reported the crime to Mt. SAC Public Safety.
The Mt. SAC Public Safety Office did not distribute a warning to students on campus because Williams said Wilson did not see the assailant who committed the crime to be a threat to the campus.
SAC.Media requested a copy of the incident report on Friday, April 19 but have not yet received a copy. The Public Safety Office has 48 hours to produce the report, according to the Clery Act. They are now in violation.
SAC.Media also consulted with Laura Egan, senior director of programs, at the Clery Center. Egan said that the incident needed to be not only reported on the date of the occurrence (Feb. 15), but also on the day it was reported (April 17) in order to be in compliance of the Clery Act.
SAC.Media also contacted Edgar Gallegos, crime analyst with the Walnut Sheriff’s Dept., regarding a rape in Walnut reported on the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department Walnut Station Part l Crimes log from Jan. 1 to Feb. 28, 2019. Gallegos could not confirm if this was the same incident.
SAC.Media has attempted to contact Wilson today. Check back for updates.
—————–
On April 17, a rape was reported on the Mt. SAC Daily Crime Log. The incident occurred at Bldg. 27A, also known as the Wellness Center, on February 15 at 12:01 a.m.
This is an ongoing story, check back for updates.
