This week, a third-year law student in the Paul M. Herbert Law Center was picked up from his intellectual property class by the Baton Rouge police. The allegations against Abdel Latif Devol include sexual assault and forcible rape of a 26-year-old woman.
Though the rape occurred on September 14, it was not publicly reported until the law enforcement found sufficient evidence to justify the victim’s claims for a prima facie case.
The arrest occurred on campus of the law center. Right now, Devol, 25, has been taken into custody and is at East Baton Rouge Parish Prison. No bond has yet been set.
According to the arrest warrant, the woman victim had gone out with Devol for drinks on Saturday evening. She returned to his home with him, but refused his overtures. However, Devol insisted on having sex.
The affidavit of probable cause mentions that when the victim refused to have sex with the defendant, he became “aggressive with her, and then began to remove her clothing.” The victim maintains that she continued to resist Devol, and pleaded him to stop, but he became more aggressive and eventually had forced intercourse.
The victim went to seek medical assistance after the incident and court documents show, at hospital, “she was discovered to have scratches on her wrists, neck and breasts consistent with sexual assault.”
The victim also made a phone call supervised by law enforcement to Devol and questioned him about the rape incident. On phone, Devol told her that he was sorry.
The Chancellor of Paul M. Herbert Law Center, Jack Weiss told the media that he is concerned for everyone, but he was unaware of the arrest at the time the LSU Reville first reported the incident.
Weiss told the media that the school hadn’t decided upon any disciplinary action and the judicial procedure must run its course and conclude itself.