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Sep 28, 2021
An attempted sexual assault at Chapman University in Orange, California, occurred Friday near a picnic table outside the Henley Hall dormitories. Police are seeking the public’s assistance in identifying the alleged campus sexual predator.
At approximately 12:40 p.m. on September 24, a female Chapman student was having a FaceTime conversation with her boyfriend in Hawaii when an unknown man wearing a skeleton mask and all-black outfit approached.
“At first, it reminded me of the Scream [film], sort of, because the eyes were blacked out,” the victim, who wishes to remain anonymous, told local FOX 11. “I couldn’t see any eyes. I specifically remember the skeleton part on top and mouth being blacked out as if he was wearing the full thing and had a mask on too.”
The victim also told local KTLA that when she first saw the suspect lingering around, she thought that perhaps the masked individual was a friend attempting to prank her. But that thought was quickly erased.
“He takes a few more steps closer… I’m like ‘OK, this is not a friend of mine, this is actually not good.’ And he punches me in the face and I hit the trash can behind me,” she told KTLA.
In the midst of the attack, police say the assailant sexually assaulted the college freshman. But the victim, an 18-year old who reportedly has 12 years of karate experience, fought back against the sexual predator.
“Somehow, he got off me and I chased him up the stairs cursing him out,” the victim, who holds a black belt in karate, told FOX 11.
“It was a violent attack where she fought back and screamed and he fled the area,” Sergeant Phil McMullin of the Orange Police Department told KTLA.
Police released video footage as well as a surveillance photo of the sexual assault suspect who was last seen walking south on Glassell Street.
Anyone with information on the suspect’s identity is urged to contact Orange Police detectives immediately at 714-744-7521.
The Chapman University campus will reportedly utilize increased security over the next several days.
As Dordulian Law Group’s partner organization, RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network) reports, women between the ages of 18 and 24 are at an elevated risk of sexual violence. The following statistics further highlight how prevalent campus sexual assault is in the U.S.:
Additionally, the autumn months are shown to correlate with the highest rates of campus sexual violence, with more than 50% of college sexual assaults occurring in either August, September, October, or November.
However, although campus sexual assault is a widespread issue impacting thousands of college students annually, these types of crimes are actually significantly underreported to authorities. In fact, it is estimated that only 20% of female students who are sexually assaulted on college campuses will ever report the incidents to law enforcement.
But as we’ve discussed in recent blogs, the reasons for not reporting campus sexual assault are often extremely personal and vary on a case-by-case basis. Moreover, sexual assault survivors may not be aware of all options available under the law – both criminal and civil. As a number of survivors may be hesitant to report crimes to law enforcement for varying reasons, filing a civil claim can be an excellent means of obtaining the justice you deserve and also recovering the financial compensation necessary to move forward on your own terms.
Unlike criminal lawsuits which are filed by the District Attorney and seek to secure a jail sentence or fine, civil lawsuits are filed by the sexual assault survivor and seek to recover financial compensation from the perpetrator. As we’ve noted previously, civil claims can be an empowering option for survivors of sexual assault, providing an opportunity to confront an assailant while also providing some potential benefits:
To learn more about filing a civil claim for a campus sexual assault, contact the experienced and dedicated team of attorneys at Dordulian Law Group (DLG). At DLG, we believe survivors, and we fight to ensure that they secure justice through maximum financial compensation. Additionally, we take on the tough cases that other firms are quick to reject. For example:
In each of these cases, the survivor was convinced that she did not have a valid case and would be unable to recover any financial compensation. But after reaching out to DLG, we helped explain all available options under the law.
If you’re unsure of whether or not your sexual assault incident is eligible for a civil claim, contact the DLG SAJE Team (Sexual Assault Justice Experts) today for a free consultation to discuss your case discreetly, confidentially, and without any obligation. We’ll review the facts of your case and launch a thorough investigation led by our in-house Chief Investigator (Moses Castillo, a retired LAPD sex crimes detective). From there, we’ll develop an aggressive but precise legal strategy based on our years of experience and past results to help you recover maximum financial compensation for your claim.
DLG was founded by former sex crimes prosecutor and Deputy District Attorney for Los Angeles County, Sam Dordulian. Dordulian offers survivors of sexual assault a level or experience and results that simply can’t be matched at most other firms. As a sex crimes prosecutor, Dordulian obtained life sentences against some of our community’s most dangerous sexual predators. With over 100 jury trial victories and an unparalleled success record, survivors consistently choose Sam Dordulian and the DLG team for our experience and past results:
Our Sexual Assault Justice Experts are here to help survivors secure justice. Contact our top-rated attorneys online or by phone for a free consultation today.
And with DLG, survivors have complete access to four-tiered representation that also includes a support network of trusted professionals known as the SAJE Team:
Contact us today online or by phone to discuss your sexual assault claim. When you choose DLG, you can be confident that we will fight to ensure you recover the maximum financial damages award you deserve, allowing you to move forward on your own terms.
Our No Win/No Fee Guarantee means survivors never have to worry about paying any upfront costs or out-of-pocket expenses. We accept each case on a contingency fee basis, meaning you do not pay anything until we recover maximum financial compensation for you.
DLG represents sexual assault survivors throughout California as well as the entire nation. We are here for you as your dedicated legal advocate when you’re ready to take the first step towards pursuing justice.
Sam Dordulian is an award-winning sexual abuse lawyer with over 25 years' experience helping survivors secure justice. As a former sex crimes prosecutor and Deputy District Attorney for L.A. County, he secured life sentences against countless sexual predators. Mr. Dordulian currently serves on the National Leadership Council for RAINN.
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