Two different sexual assaults were reported by Shippensburg University students — one man faces multiple criminal charges while a felony rape charge has been filed against the other man — according to PennLive.

Earlier this year, a woman accused SU student Joshua M. Koumaras, 22, of raping her in March 2018. Charging documents were filed this week, according to PennLive article.

The woman reported she was told that Koumaras had accompanied her home after a night of drinking at a party. The woman could not remember coming home with him, but told police she “would never” have sex with him. However, Koumaras told the woman that they did have sex that night, the article said.

In November, Koumaras admitted in a texting conversation with the woman to raping her while she was unconscious. During a police interview in February, Koumaras said he asked for consent, but admitted that he believed the woman was raped, according to PennLive.

Koumaras is charged with rape of an unconscious victim, sexual assault and indecent assault of an unconscious person, according to court documents.

Josiah M. Kushner, 20, of Hummelstown, is accused of sexually assaulting an SU student while she slept in her bed on Sept. 16, according to a PennLive article.

The woman reported the assault after she invited Kushner to visit her the night before and to go to an off-campus party. She changed her mind about going to the party, and that led to an argument between her and Kushner, according to the article.

The woman said Kushner grabbed her chest multiple times during the argument. She agreed to go to the party and consumed alcohol while she was there. The woman, Kushner, the woman’s roommate and another woman returned to her room on campus around 1:25 a.m., the article said.

After letting Kushner sleep in her bed with her, the woman woke up feeling “sick and dizzy.” Kushner then started to assault her, and she fell asleep before waking up to Kushner sexually assaulting her again, according to PennLive.

Kushner put his hand around the woman’s throat while sexually assaulting her. The woman told him she could not breathe and eventually was able to push him away. When she used the bathroom the next morning, there was blood in the toilet, according to the article.

Kushner admitted that he did not have consent to touch the woman in a sexual manner and that he may have injured the woman, during a phone call between him and the woman that was recorded by officials at the Cumberland County District Attorney’s Office and university police, the article said.

According to online court documents, Kushner is charged with aggravated indecent assault without consent, aggravated indecent assault of an unconscious person, indecent assault without consent, indecent assault of an unconscious person, strangulation, simple assault and a summary offense of harassment.

Media relations/social media manager Megan Silverstrim spoke about how the incidents affect the safety on campus and what improvements can be made. 

“Ship has long-standing programs and resources that educate, empower and support students and the entire Ship community, ranging from risk reduction, to bystander intervention and how to report incidents,” Silverstrim said. “Governor Wolf awarded Shippensburg University an It’s On Us grant this year to further enhance our efforts to end sexual violence in our community. The grant is funding a Green Dot evidence-based bystander intervention program.”

Share