Marron trial adjourned:not guilty

After his indictment on Feb. 22 and consequent trial, former Xavier student Sean Marron was found not guilty on Oct. 20 on four counts of rape.

This ruling was reached after a three-day bench trial before Hamilton County Judge Robert Ruehlman. Marron was a student at Xavier from the fall 2006 semester through

the spring 2009 semester and the spring and fall 2010 semesters. Marron was indicted on two charges

from two different incidents, one on Nov. 22, 2008 and the second in late March of 2009. Xavier University held a hearing in March of 2009 that found Marron responsible and suspended him for a semester, enabling him to return to the University for the spring 2010 semester. After his return, a second incident dent occured. The victim formally pressed charges in October 2010 against Marron for stalking, harassing and raping her. A second hearing was held, causing Marron to be expelled from Xavier in Dec. 2010.

On Feb. 22, 2011, Marron was indicted on four counts of rape following a grand jury testimony from both alleged victims. Marron waived the right to a jury.

Marron's trial began on October 18 and concluded on October 20.

According to Court Reporter Barbara Lambers, after his three-day trial, Marron was found not guilty due to inconsistencies, a lack of evidence and an extended wait between when the incidents occurred and when charges were pressed.

"The judge said that anyone who reports an incident up to a year after should not be tolerated," said one of the alleged victims. "There are different reasons to why people don't report rape. They are afraid to end the relationship, and it takes a lot of time to realize that the friendship ended."

According to the Aurora Center for Advocacy and Education, less than 5 percent of college rape survivors nationally report the incident to police.