A Syracuse University student’s criminal case regarding rape charges has not yet entered court proceedings, according to the district asttorney’s office.

Jeffrey Amponsah, a former resident of 410 Winding Ridge, was arrested on a charge of rape Feb. 27, according to Public Safety Capt. Drew Buske. The alleged rape occurred early in the morning Feb. 26 at Amponsah’s residence, said Sgt. Tom Connellan of the Syracuse Police Department.

Aponsah has since been suspended from the university, Buske said.

Amponsah has not been formally indicted yet, said Assistant District Attorney Gary Dawson.

‘A decision is going to be made in which direction the case will proceed,’ Dawson said. ‘(We’re) in the process of reviewing evidence and meeting with witnesses and so forth.’

Amponsah will not be indicted until after his case is reviewed by a grand jury, should it go to trial, Dawson said.

Amponsah’s defense attorney Jim McGraw said he expects the case to take a regular course, and that the evidence supports his case.

‘What we’re learning from every indication is there was no crime,’ McGraw said. ‘Clearly there was intercourse; the question is whether or not it was consensual. … Our investigations support a claim that it was consensual.’

Both Dawson and McGraw declined to specify the evidence under review.

‘The police have determined there was probable cause to make an arrest,’ Dawson said.

Prior to his arrest, Amponsah and two other SU students were assaulted in their apartment on the night of Feb. 26 by three unidentified men, according to a Public Safety report. Amponsah’s injuries from the assault included bruising and swelling, Buske said.

‘We believe the assault was in retaliation for (Amponsah’s) involvement in a sexual assault investigation,’ Buske said.

Amponsah was arraigned in court Feb. 27 on felony charges of third-degree rape and second-degree sexual abuse, said Sgt. Tom Connellan of the Syracuse Police Department.

Amponsah was held at the Onondaga County Justice Center following his arrest, Connellan said. He was released on bail Feb. 28, Buske said.

Published on March 30, 2005 at 12:00 pm