A freshman at the University Illinois is behind bars at the Cook County Jail after what prosecutors say was a ’50 Shades of Grey’ re-enactment resulting in the sexual assault of a female student.
It began as a consensual visit to Mohammad Hossain‘s University dorm room Saturday at 5:30 pm, according to reports front the Chicago Tribune. Both students had ‘previously been intimate’ but were not dating, according to the Assistant State’s Attorney Sarah Karr.
Hossain allegedly asked the woman to remove all her clothing except for her bra and underwear, which she complied according to the prosecutor. He then bound her hands above her head to a bed using a belt. He also bound her legs with another belt and stuffed a necktie in her mouth, Karr said.
Hossain used a knit cap to cover the woman’s eyes and removed the woman’s bra and underwear, Karr said. He then began striking the woman with a belt. After hitting her several times, the woman told Hossain he was hurting her, told him to stop “and began shaking her head and crying,” said Karr.
During the assault, Hossain’s roommate returned to the dorm room, but Hossain allegedly held the door shut to prevent him from getting in. During this timer the young woman was able to escape and notify someone who then called the police.
According to an arrest report, police arrested Hossain later that night in another dorm building in the 700 block of South Halsted Street. He was interviewed by UIC detectives and, according to Karr, admitted assaulting the woman and “doing something wrong.” He allegedly told police he and the woman were re-enacting scenes from “Fifty Shades of Grey.”
The presiding judge of the case, Adam Bourgeois, Jr. asked how a college student who was involved in UIC leadership programs, student ambassador to the alumni association, as well as the triathlon team could allow a movie to persuade him this.
“He would say that it was consensual,” replied public defender Sandra Bennewitz
Hossain is due back in court on March 19th and is charged with a felony aggravated criminal sexual assault. He is currently being held on $500,000 bail.
