Timothy Schwartz
photo by Peter Christian
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UPDATE Wednesday, February 19, 4:00 p.m.

University of Montana student Timothy Eugene Schwartz, 18, appeared in justice court via video from the Missoula County Jail on Wednesday, February 19, on a felony charge of sexual intercourse without consent, and misdemeanor criminal trespassing.

Deputy Missoula County Attorney Jennifer Clark asked Judge John Odlin for a high bail, due to the serious nature of the charge.

"The state is requesting $50,000 bail," Clark said. "We'd also ask that he have no contact with the victim, Jane Doe, or with any of the witnesses involved in this case. We also ask that he be restrained from the University of Montana."

Clark said Schwartz was already involved in the criminal court system in a case from Gallatin County.

"We also believe he is on release from some charges in Gallatin County," Clark said. "I believe they will be filing a petition to revoke his release based on allegations from this case, and some other potential violations of the conditions of his release."

Schwartz confessed to burglarizing two businesses at the base of Bridger Bowl near Bozeman in December.

University of Montana Vice President for Integrated Communications Peggy Kuhr said on Wednesday, that campus officials knew about the charges in Gallatin County. She said Schwartz was allowed to return to UM on several conditions, one of which was that he was not allowed to enter any of the dorms.

Judge John Odlin set bail for Schwartz at $50,000, and he was placed back in the Missoula County Jail.

Deputy Missoula County Attorney Jennifer Clark

UPDATE Wednesday, February 19 10:30 a.m.

A suspect is now in custody in connection with a rape that was reported on Monday by a University of Montana student.

Timothy Schwartz, 18, was arrested and placed in custody after being questioned by Missoula police detectives.  He is being held in the Missoula County Detention Center on a charge of sexual intercourse without consent.

The 19 year-old victim reported that she had been raped in her dorm room in Jesse Hall, and that she knew the suspect. She also suffered minor injuries in the assault.

Schwartz is scheduled to appear in Missoula Justice Court on Wednesday afternoon to hear charges of sexual intercourse without consent and trespassing.

Missoula police are investigating a rape that occurred early Monday morning, February 17, on the University of Montana campus.

Public Information Officer Travis Welsh said Missoula police responded at about 8:15 Monday night, after the University of Montana police department had investigated the incident that had occurred in Jesse Hall.

"We were able to have contact with a young female who reported that she had an encounter with a young male acquaintance, and eventually stated that he had raped her at her residence on campus," Welsh said. "The male suspect has been identified, and we have spoken to him. So far, no charges have been levied, and the case is ongoing."

No names have been released in the investigation.

Missoula Police Department Public Information Officer Travis Welsh

The issue of sexual assault on the University of Montana Campus has brought national media attention to Missoula, along with several federal investigations that have impacted the University of Montana, the Missoula Police Department, the UM Police Department, the City of Missoula, and the Missoula County Attorney's Office.

Responding to this issue, among many other programs, the university has instituted PETSA, which stands for Personal Empowerment Through Self Awareness. This on-line learning module is required for all students who register for classes. A student must score 100% on the test to register for the second semester of classes.

Many other colleges and universities have appropriated the PETSA program, such as Vanderbilt University.

 

 

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