Bentley Student-Athlete Pleads Not Guilty To Rape Charges

WALTHAM, MA — A Bentley University student-athlete pleaded not guilty in Middlesex Superior Court Thursday to charges of rape, assault to rape, and indecent assault and battery, reported Boston 25 News.

Prosecutors say Jacob Acker, 21, invited a 19-year-old Bentley student-athlete to his off-campus home in Waltham the morning of Feb. 20, 2021 and the victim told Acker she would not have sex with him. Acker allegedly drank hard alcohol and got intimate, but the woman continued to refuse sex.

When the victim woke up, she told investigators she felt violated and Acker gave her a towel to clean up. A friend took her to Newton-Wellesley Hospital, where she was treated for injuries and medical staff collected forensic evidence.

According to Boston 25, Attorney Wendy Murphy, who is representing the victim, said the school could have blocked Acker from walking in graduation in May under Federal Title IX Civil RIghts laws, but did not.

“Nothing is more important than the safety and well-being of our community," a Bentley spokesperson told the news station in a statement. "While we are prohibited from commenting on an ongoing case, any incident that is reported is immediately investigated according to federal and state law, as well as Bentley’s own procedures. Bentley takes allegations of sexual assault and harassment extremely seriously and the university is dedicated to supporting and protecting people who report these incidents.”

Acker has been released on personal recognizance and ordered to stay away from Bentley and the victim. He is due back in court on Nov. 22.