Former frat president who got zero jail time for rape is banned from his university’s graduation

A former fraternity president who received no jail time after being accused of rape has been banned from graduation ceremonies at the University of Texas at Dallas, USA Today reports.

The morning after he was arrested for drugging and sexually assaulting a female student at a 2016 frat party, Jacob Walter Anderson walked away with a plea agreement that resulted in a $400 fine and no jail time. An arrest warrant shared by a local NBC affiliate revealed that Anderson led a 19-year-old woman behind a house where he repeatedly sexually assaulted her until she blacked out.

After the incident, he was expelled from Baylor University and transferred to the University of Texas at Dallas, who now says it was unaware of Anderson’s past when they accepted him.

On Wednesday, UT Dallas President Richard Benson announced that Anderson would be banned from the university going forward.

“There is nothing more important at UT Dallas than the safety and security of our students,” the statement read. “Two years ago we admitted a student without knowing their legal history. Based on recent court action and other information over the last several days, that student will not participate in UTD commencement activities, will not attend UT Dallas graduate school and will not be present on campus as a student or as a guest. I am grateful to the UT Dallas students, faculty and other community members who have shared their concerns, disappointment and outrage over this student’s presence on campus.”

The action comes in the wake of a petition circulated by students calling for Anderson to be removed from campus. The petition was signed by over 26,000 people.

This past Monday, Anderson’s accuser got a chance to confront him and the judge who gave him the lenient sentence.

“I am devastated by your decision to let my rapist Jacob Walter Anderson go free without any punishment,” the unidentified woman told the judge.

“It must be horrible to be you,” the woman said, addressing Anderson directly. “To know what you did to me. To know you are a rapist. To know that you almost killed me. To know that you ruined my life, stole my virginity and stole many other things from me.”

From USA Today:

Anderson’s accuser filed a civil suit against Anderson, five of his Phi Delta Theta fraternity brothers, the fraternity and the woman who owns the house where the incident is said to have occurred. He will not be required to go to jail or register as a sex offender, according to the terms Judge Ralph Strother of McLennan County’s19th District Court approved Monday.

Anderson was sentenced to three years probation and a $400 fine.

Featured image via screen grab

Sky Palma

Before launching DeadState back in 2012, Sky Palma has been blogging about politics, social issues and religion for over a decade. He lives in Los Angeles and also enjoys Brazilian jiu jitsu, chess, music and art.