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Case of Sioux City man accused of ISU dorm sexual assault dismissed

Ames Tribune - 5/22/2018

May 22--Charges against a Sioux City man accused of sexually assaulting a woman in an Iowa State University dorm room in September 2017 has been dismissed after Story County Attorney Jessica Reynolds said her office determined there wasn't enough evidence to proceed.

Christian Michael Burford, 20, was arrested early last month and charged with three counts of third-degree sexual abuse, a Class C felony.

Reynolds said the evidence presented was insufficient to file trial information.

According to court documents, Burford and the woman had been messaging one another before meeting on Sept. 27, 2017.

Documents show Burford asked the woman if he could travel from Sioux City to meet her. The woman said yes, but under the condition, they didn't have sex. The woman told Burford he could sleep on the couch if he stayed, and she didn't want to feel pressured into doing anything sexual.

After he arrived at the woman's dorm room they watched a movie and Burford tried to kiss her and pulled her toward him, touching her inappropriately, documents show.

Court records show she was scared and unable to make Burford stop, and that the sex acts weren't consensual.

Reynolds said dismissing the case was a difficult decision, but it was the right decision.

"I take sexual assault cases very seriously, but I also take the rights of the accused very seriously," Reynolds said. "My ultimate job is to find the truth and do justice."

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