A UF resident assistant was arrested by UPD and charged with sexual battery of a victim between 12 and 18 years old July 8.
The suspect, Parker Siegel, a 19-year-old UF computer science student, allegedly held the victim down and raped her inside his room in Mallory Hall at 2:30 p.m. July 8. The victim did not give Siegel consent and repeatedly told him “no” and “I have to go,” according to a police report.
While the report did not identify Siegel as a resident assistant, The Alligator obtained a photo of a now taken-down poster in Mallory Hall confirming Siegel as a former resident assistant for the dorm.
The report did not include the victim’s age.
UPD arrested Siegel around 8:48 p.m. later that evening.
The Alachua County Jail released Siegel on a $100,000 bond July 9, a jail official said.
UPD issued a trespass warning barring Siegel from UF’s campus, said Florida Bridgewater-Alford, UF’s Associate Director of Learning, Development and Integration, in a written statement July 10.
“The University of Florida takes all allegations of sexual assault very seriously, and we are committed to providing an environment where students, faculty and staff are safe from all types of sexual misconduct,” Bridgewater-Alford said.
Siegel’s written plea of not guilty was filed to the Alachua County Clerk of Court July 11.
Additionally, Siegel and his counsel filed a motion requesting the judge to dismiss his charges July 11.
Students living in Mallory Hall and surrounding dorms are troubled by the alleged crime.
Sarah Hall, an 18-year-old UF political science freshman and Mallory Hall resident, remembers seeing a swarm of police cars near her dorm while walking home the night of July 8.
The situation made her feel anxious about being alone in certain areas of her dorm, like the laundry room, she said.
“It makes me very uncomfortable and kind of scared,” she said. “It makes me even more uncomfortable that he’s out on bail.”
Natasha Rattray, an 18-year-old UF exploratory freshman living in Reid Hall, learned of the potential assault quickly due to having friends who live in Mallory Hall. Her resident assistant also reached out to her floormates, she said.
One of Rattray's friends who lives in Mallory Hall claims Siegel was his resident assistant, she said. Rattray was shocked to hear the suspect held a role in leadership.
“I think it’s disgusting for someone to take advantage of their position,” she said. “[Sexual assault is] the most horrific thing that could happen to anyone.”
Rattray confirmed she has not received communications from UF about the incident as of Sunday afternoon.
Contact Amanda at afriedman@alligator.org. Follow her on Twitter @amandasfriedman.
Amanda Friedman is a senior journalism major and the Enterprise Editor at The Alligator. She previously wrote for the Avenue, Metro and University desks. When she isn't reporting, she loves watching coming-of-age films and listening to Ariana Grande.
