Ex-Temple Frat Pres Sex Assault Charges Held For Court

PHILADELPHIA – The former president of a Temple University fraternity had numerous charges, including attempted rape and intimidating a victim, filed against him held over at a Thursday court appearance, records show.

Ari Goldstein, 21, of Wrightstown, Bucks County, and former president of Temple's Alpha Epsilon Pi chapter will go on to face felony charges of attempted rape, intimidation of a victim to refrain from reporting, and attempted sexual assault. He also faces charges of indecent assault by forcible compulsion, simple assault, and false imprisonment, and unlawful restraint.

These charges were held for court, but a three other charges – involuntary deviate sexual intercourse by forcible compulsion, statutory sexual assault, and attempted indecent assault by forcible compulsion – were dropped or withdrawn, court records show.

Goldstein remains free after posting 10 percent of $2 million bail and is set to appear for a formal arraignment on Aug. 2.

Goldstein was charged on May 16.

Back in April, Temple suspended the frat during an investigation into alleged sexual assaults, underage and excessive drinking, and possible drug use at the fraternity's social events.

At that time Philadelphia Police said two alleged sex assaults at the frat house – located at 2000 N. Broad St. – were being investigated.

The first happened in February but was reported to authorities in April, according to police. Authorities said a female student attended a party at the frat house and alleges to have been sexually assaulted.

The second alleged sexual assault happened in March and was also reported in April, police said. Another female student went to a party at the house and was served drinks then became dizzy and disoriented, according to police.

Police said she woke up in bed with a fraternity member and believes she was sexually assaulted.

The fraternity issued a statement on Goldstein's arrest and charges, according to Action News.

"Alpha Epsilon Pi International has no additional information about the charges being brought. We have not been informed - nor would we expect to be - of any of the allegations made or the evidence found. We will continue, though, to cooperate with Temple University and all local authorities," the statement reads. "The young man charged was not the chapter president at the time of his arrest. He had been removed as president several weeks ago and the chapter has been suspended by the International Fraternity for nearly a month."

Alpha Epsilon Pi had its social privileges suspended in early April during an investigation for "potential violations," according to the Temple News.

After the social suspension, the fraternity issued a statement denying the accusations of "potential violations," saying the organization was "appalled" at the allegations.

Image via Philadelphia Police