A former Indiana University student accused of raping two women received probation -- but spent just one day in jail -- and one of his victims spoke out against the sentence.
John Enochs agreed to plead guilty last week to battery after prosecutors promised to drop two counts of rape against him, and Monroe County Judge Marc Kellams then sentenced the fraternity member to one year of probation.
The case sparked widespread outrage and drew comparisons to a six-month sentence imposed on Brock Turner, a former Stanford University swimmer convicted of sexually assaulting an unconscious woman outside a fraternity party.
A woman told police that Enochs raped her at the Delta Tau Delta fraternity house in April 2015, and security video showed him enter a room with the victim, who suffered lacerations to her genitals during the attack.
Investigators then discovered similar allegations against Enochs from 2013, but prosecutors said state law prevented jurors in either case to hear about the other allegations if they went to trial, reported the Indianapolis Star.
“This turn of events was frustrating for us as prosecutors, due to the fact that there were two complaints against the defendant," said Robert Miller, the chief deputy prosecuting attorney. "That fact is the reason we continued to pursue accountability on his part which led to this plea agreement."
One of the victims said through her attorney that she was "frustrated" that her assailant avoided prison time, reported WRTV-TV.
The woman admits to drinking before the assault and said she didn't remember much about the incident, but she said a rape exam showed vaginal injuries and witnesses said she had repeatedly told Enochs that she did not want to have sex with him.
“This obviously has been devastating for her,” said attorney Jeff Herman. “It has forced her to have to leave school. For her, it’s a life sentence.”
The victim has filed a civil lawsuit against Enochs, Indiana University and Delta Tau Delta.
“She’s got a long road ahead of her,” said Herman. “Enough is enough, it’s out of control. The only way we’re going to get change and protect other girls is to file a civil lawsuit.”
Enochs said through his attorney that he had not raped anyone and should never have been charged, and he accused police of misconduct.
He apologized for a "lack of judgment" for the misdemeanor count of battery, which means touching his victim in a “rude, insolent, or angry manner, resulting in moderate bodily injury.”
"Issues of alcohol and sexual misconduct are serious issues on college campuses across the country, but such issues are trivialized when law enforcement misrepresents the true facts and fails to investigate the allegations fully and fairly," Enochs said in a statement issued through his attorney.
