news

UI FIJI criminal case dismissed, ending a years-long process

Vaseline3 weeks ago

0 2 minutes read

UI FIJI criminal case dismissed, ending a years-long process

A criminal harassment charge against a former University of Iowa fraternity brother has been dismissed, ending a yearslong lawsuit surrounding an alleged 2020 sexual assault.

Carson Steffen, 23, was charged in 2021 with first-degree harassment, a serious misdemeanor. The indictment alleges that he shared photos of a person “involved in a sexual act” without consent on Snapchat in the early morning hours of September 5. , 2020.

The complaint did not identify the alleged victim but listed an address consistent with the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity house. The complaint indicated that the incident occurred on the same evening as Makena Solberg’s alleged assault. Solberg filed a civil suit against Carson Steffen and Jacob Meloan in 2021.

Steffen was one of two former members of the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity who recently settled at Solberg. The fraternity and Solberg also “reached a resolution through mediation,” Solberg’s attorney previously told the Press-Citizen.

Johnson County Attorney Rachel Zimmermann-Smith filed a motion on behalf of the state to dismiss the harassment charge. She wrote that Solberg had submitted a written request to dismiss the case. Zimmermann-Smith also wrote that the criminal trial, which was set to begin on December 3, could have had an impact on the earlier settlement.

The dismissal puts an end to the lawsuit

Steffen’s firing is the latest legal action in a pair of cases that caused an uproar on campus after the sexual assault allegations came to light more than three years ago. Protesters gathered in front of the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity house for hours in 2021 and marched through the streets of Iowa City on consecutive days, demanding the fraternity close.

In a separate civil case filed in 2022, association member Broc Hawkins was accused of sharing images and videos he received after the alleged incident on September 5, 2020. That case was dismissed with prejudice in January.

Solberg settled or “reached a resolution” with all of the defendants in the original civil lawsuit: Steffen, Jacob Meloan, the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity and the Mu Deuteron chapter of the frat. The details of each settlement have not been made public.

Ryan Hansen covers local government and crime for the Press-Citizen. He can be reached at [email protected] or on X, formerly known as Twitter, @ryanhansen01.

Vaseline3 weeks ago

0 2 minutes read

The dismissal puts an end to the lawsuit

Vaseline

Related Articles

Willie Mays encountered racism in Hagerstown as a member of the Trenton Giants

Blutiger Streit in Hochdorf: 56 years after a message attack!

Champions League: Unai Emery’s ‘fantastic’ tactical details

Future Games 2024: Team Mississippi, Quick Hits