Iowa State student charged after allegedly pinning down, assaulting female student in dorm

Tyler J. Davis
The Des Moines Register

An Iowa State University student accused of pinning down and assaulting a female in her dorm has been charged.

Cory Jackson Newell, 19, faces a charge of assault with intent to commit sexual abuse, an aggravated misdemeanor, after he repeatedly touched the woman inappropriately on campus in August 2018, court records show.

A university spokeswoman confirmed that Newell, who listed a Sioux City address in court records, is currently a student at Iowa State.

Cory Jackson Newell, 19, shown in his mugshot.

Newell and the victim were in her room Aug. 24 when Newell began to touch her thigh and buttocks, according to a criminal complaint.

She told him to stop and tried to move away from him, but Newell grabbed her wrist and rolled his body on top of hers.

He grabbed her other wrist and told her that he was stronger than her and she could not free herself, according to court records. 

The victim told police that Newell groped her again, put his hands down her pants and said "I always wanted to do that" before leaving the room.

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The incident was reported in October to Iowa State University Police.

Newell, who is enrolled as a freshman engineering student, was arrested on campus Thursday and has since been released, court records show. His next court date is March 7. 

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