The Nassau DA released the following statement.
"Moments ago my office moved to dismiss all charges against four men accused of committing a sexual assault on the campus of Hofstra University. Late this evening, during the continuation of the Nassau County Police Department's investigation of the allegation, and under questioning by my office's chief trial attorney and chief sex crimes prosecutor, the alleged victim of the sexual assault admitted that the encounter that took place early Sunday morning was consensual. Following the interview, my office moved quickly to appear before a night court judge to dismiss all charges and request that the judge order the individuals' immediate release. Nassau County Judge Robert Bruno dismissed the charges and ordered their release. I have launched an immediate criminal investigation into the statements and reports given by the woman in connection with this incident. Further details regarding this investigation will be released at a later time."
In response to the message from the District Attorney, Hofstra University sent the following message to students. To the Members of the Hofstra Community:
We have been notified by the Nassau County District Attorneys Office that the young woman involved in the alleged rape incident has recanted her claims against the five young men.
This week has been a very difficult one for our entire community, and we will need time to heal and understand the events of the last few days. As additional information becomes available we will post it on the University home page.
The 18-year-old student had accused the men, one of them a Hofstra student, of taking her cell phone at an on-campus nightclub and luring her into a dormitory men's room and sexually assaulting her early Sunday.
Four of the accused men, Rondell Bedward, Jesus Ortiz, Kevin Taveras and Stalin Felipe were arrested and arraigned on rape and other charges.
For more on this breaking story, tune in to Eyewitness News at 11 p.m.
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