Man Accused In Villanova Sex Assaults Faces New Charges

RADNOR TOWNSHIP, PA — A Villanova University student charged earlier this month with attempted sexual assault on campus faces added charges.

Iyanu Elijah Solomon, 19, of Reisterstown, Md., today was charged with aggravated indecent assault, indecent assault, and simple assault in addition to charges filed against him on March 9, Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer announced today.

Villanova University Police Chief David Tedjeske, in the March 24 criminal complaint, accused Solomon of having indecent sexual contact with a female victim without her consent in three separate incidents. All of the incidents describe sexual contact without consent, and the third incident involved "recklessly causing bodily harm" while forcing sexual contact without consent.

The report said the victim was a first-semester student at the time. She told police she was held in a manner that did not allow her to avoid Solomon's advances as he assaulted her in a manner that was "forceful and painful," according to the report.

The female also told police she was afraid to speak up at the time for fear of the "possible negative effects that speaking up could have on her and her experience at Villanova."

The criminal report said the accused tried to contact the victim on Snapchat several times over the two weeks following the alleged assault and she did not respond.

On March 9 Solomon was charged with attempted sexual assault, a felony, as well as with misdemeanor charges of indecent assault, simple assault, and unlawful restraint. A conviction on the charges could bring a sentence of up to 10 years imprisonment.

The earlier charges related to an Aug. 12, 2020 incident. According to a report released by the District Attorney's Office, the Chief of Police at Villanova University was notified by university staff of an incident in September 2019. The victim, a female student, had reported that a male resident student had forcibly attempted to engage in oral and vaginal sex with her.

In February 2021 the victim decided that she wanted to pursue criminal charges and reported that she had been subjected to ongoing harassment by the defendant, according to the D.A.'s report.

In March 2021 the victim met with representatives from the District Attorney’s Office and the charge of attempted sexual assault followed the report.

Read the story reported on March 9 here.

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