Crime & Safety

College Towers Sex Assault Suspect Pleads Not Guilty

Ahmed Refaie, age 25, of Kent charged with sexual imposition and burglary

A Kent State University student charged with sexual imposition has pleaded not guilty and is free on bond.

Ahmed Refai, 25, a graduate chemistry student at Kent State, pleaded not guilty to the sexual imposition charge, a third-degree misdemeanor, this week before Portage County Municipal Court Judge Barb Oswick.

He was released after posting 10 percent of a $10,000 bond, according to court records.

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Kent Police arrested Refai Friday after a resident of College Towers Apartments told police he forced her way into her apartment and initiated unwanted sexual contact.

Refai was identified after police posted his image from a surveillance camera on their Facebook page.

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He also was charged with burglary, a fourth-degree felony, for forcing his way into the victim's third-floor apartment.

KentWired reported that Refai knocked on the victim's door and asked where the apartment laundry room was before inappropriately groping her.

A pretrial hearing on the charges is set for Friday morning.

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