Freshman swimmer Brock Turner faces five felony counts after alleged rape

Freshman swimmer Brock Turner will be charged with five felony counts on Wednesday after he allegedly raped an intoxicated, unconscious woman on Jan. 18, the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office confirmed on Tuesday night.

Turner faces these charges: rape of an intoxicated person, rape of an unconscious person, sexual penetration by a foreign object of an intoxicated woman, sexual penetration by a foreign object of an unconscious woman and assault with intent to commit rape.

In the police report, Turner admitted to having sexual contact with the alleged victim but denied nonconsensual intercourse.

Freshman swimmer Brock Turner (above) last swam for Stanford against Pacific on Jan. 10. (HECTOR GARCIA-MOLINA/StanfordPhoto.com)

Turner could face up to 10 years in prison. He is set to be arraigned next Monday.

“This is something that the University takes very seriously, and the University took immediate action,” said University spokesperson Lisa Lapin when reached for comment after the charges became public.

According to a San Jose Mercury News report, Turner was found on top of an unconscious woman at approximately 1 a.m. on Sunday, Jan. 18, by two cyclists, who chased after him. The Santa Clara District Attorney’s Office confirmed that the two cyclists held him down while a third person called the police.

“Several students, both graduates and undergraduates, were upstanders in this situation,” Catherine Criswell, the University’s Title IX Coordinator, told the Stanford News Report.  “They made the courageous decision to intervene and provide assistance.  That is exactly the type of leadership and caring we attempt to cultivate in our community, and we commend those students on their courage and quick response.”

Turner was arrested for attempted rape on Lomita Court near Kappa Alpha (KA) and Jerry. After the arrest, he was transported to the San Jose Main Jail and released on bond later that day.

The alleged victim was not a Stanford student, Lapin said. Lapin also confirmed that Turner has voluntarily withdrawn his registration as a Stanford student and is not permitted on campus. Turner is not eligible to re-enroll, according to the Stanford News Report.

A reporter interviews a student in White Plaza after the announcement that Brock Turner would face five felony charges. (SAM GIRVIN/The Stanford Daily)

Lapin said she expected news media on campus Tuesday night and advised students that while members of the media are allowed to approach anybody in White Plaza, the University prohibits media from approaching students in residences or classrooms.

Turner is no longer practicing with his team. He last swam for Stanford in a Jan. 10 meet against Pacific, finishing third in the 1,000-yard freestyle and second in the 200-yard backstroke.

Turner’s arrest was first publicized on Monday night by on-campus email newsletter The Fountain Hopper and independently confirmed by The Daily.

Turner’s attorney, Mike Armstrong, declined to comment.

This post will be updated.

Contact Alice Phillips at alicep1 ‘at’ stanford.edu or Joseph Beyda at jbeyda ‘at’ stanford.edu.