Fairfield Man Pleads Not Guilty In Sacred Heart Rape Case

FAIRFIELD, CT — A Fairfield man accused of raping a Sacred Heart University student in her dorm has pleaded not guilty.

Jack F. Shukri attended a remote pretrial hearing Tuesday, entering a not guilty plea and requesting a jury trial, according to Connecticut Judicial Branch officials.

After communicating with the 19-year-old student on Tinder, Shukri met up with her Oct. 9, and pushed her onto a common room couch, sexually assaulting her until her roommates heard her screaming and came to her aid, the Connecticut Post has reported.

Shukri, a security guard for a company unaffiliated with Sacred Heart, was arrested Jan. 5 and claimed his actions were consensual, according to the Post. He is charged with first-degree sexual assault, a felony, and is free on a $100,000 bond, according to court records.

A Sacred Heart spokeswoman has said the university is working closely with police.

Shukri, who is being represented by a public defender, is next scheduled to appear in court March 4.