A Drake University student has been charged with sexually assaulting a fraternity brother, according to a Des Moines police report. Drake senior Anthony Bertolone, 21, is being charged with third-degree sex abuse for performing sexual acts on a 20-year-old Sigma Chi fraternity brother while he was unconscious. According to the report, the victim was unaware that he had been assaulted until he stumbled upon photographs and video of the attacks on Bertolone's computer. The victim told police that he copied the digital evidence onto a memory card. Des Moines news network KCCI reported that Police have since stripped Bertolone's room in the fraternity house in search of computer systems, forensic data, photographs or videotapes that may contain additional evidence. Police arrested Bertolone on Wednesday. Police Sgt. Lori Lavorato, who is investigating the case, said in an interview with the Des Moines Register that the victim was 'obviously incoherent' when the assault took place last fall, and that the attacks happened repeatedly. KCCI's article states, "The victim told police he has never been in a sexual relationship with Bertolone and that he didn't consent to the acts." The police report also says the victim claims to have been drugged before the sexual assaults occurred. Bertolone is scheduled to meet in court for his initial appearance on August 13 at 8 a.m., according to Iowa court records.
A separate Drake University fraternity was involved in a controversy last year when fraternity brothers of the now-banned Phi Delta Theta house hazed a fraternity recruit. Two students were charged with hazing for forcing a first-year student to consume high amounts of Everclear, leading to the student's hospitalization with a lethal .5 blood alcohol content.