Two SRU students charged with rape

Last week, Slippery Rock University's campus was rocked by the news of an alleged rape involving SRU students that occurred in September, making several members of the campus community question why they weren't informed earlier.    

According to Slippery Rock Borough Police Lt. Brian Hoak, it was a standard time frame.

"Basically, the officer had to wait until the district attorney approved the complaint," Hoak said. "In a serious case of this magnitude, it takes time."

The time between the alleged incident and the issuing of the arrest warrant was in no way wasted, according to Hoak.

"The investigation was ongoing during the time," Hoak said. "Once the officer had enough information, he presented an affidavit to the DA, who then had to read and approve it."  

When the news finally did reach the campus community, the details made for a chilling story that came about on the same weekend news of another violent crime, a physical assault, took place near campus.

Bryan Chieze, 21, and Braydon Micaletti, 22, both of New Castle, allegedly simultaneously raped a female student at a home on West Cooper Street, located behind Ginger Hill Tavern on Sept. 29, according to a police criminal complaint filed by the Slippery Rock Borough police department.

Both Chieze and Micaletti were charged with rape, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, sexual assault and unlawful restraint, according to the criminal complaints filed against them on Oct. 22.

These charges came three weeks after the alleged crimes took place.

The victim stated that she was speaking to Chieze and Micaletti in a bedroom of the home before they overpowered her and committed the assault.

According to the filed complaint, the victim told police that a few minutes after the assault began, she heard her friend screaming her name outside the room.

Her friend told police that she had opened the door to a bedroom to find Micaletti over the  victim, holding her down, while Chieze was between her legs.

Both of the men were engaging in the assault, according to the witness.

After closing the door for about five seconds, the witness said she opened it again to find Micaletti sitting in the corner of the bed in the fetal position and added that he would not look at her.

Chieze was standing and asked her not to tell his girlfriend. The victim ran out of the room crying and later threw up.

The two men were released from the Butler County Prison on $50,000 bail and are set to appear in court on Nov. 16 for preliminary hearings.

The victim was treated at the Grove City Medical Center for injuries to her lip and neck.

The responding officer first spoke with her there shortly after 3 p.m. on the day following the alleged assault.

At the time, the officer stated the victim showed signs of fear and exhaustion in addition to her injuries, and that she had not slept the previous night.

After the victim told him that she had been raped the night before, the officer concluded that she was not in the right condition to continue answering questions at the time and asked her to later go to the police station for a formal statement.