Upd Looking for Man That Allegedly Tried to Rape Uf Student

Whittel & Melton 1-352-264-7800 – Florida Sex Crimes Attorneys

The University of Florida Police Department is currently searching for a man that is believed to have tried to rape a University of Florida student on campus near Weimer Hall Monday night.

The UPD claims the man was armed with a knife when he attempted to sexually assault a student walking near the building around 9:30 p.m. He allegedly ran off after the woman fought off the attack.

The woman was not injured.

UF issued an alert to students shortly after the alleged incident occurred.

As of now, the suspect has not been apprehended.

It is important to understand that attempting to commit a crime is still considered a criminal offense even if no actual crime was committed. A person that attempts to commit rape, but fails to complete the crime can face severe criminal consequences. An attempted rape accusation is taken quite seriously in the state of Florida and is punishable by anywhere from 10 years to life in prison as well as court ordered rehabilitation, counseling, heavy fines and in some cases, no possibility of probation or parole. The penalties associated with a rape or attempted rape conviction vary depending on certain circumstances surrounding the incident, including the age of the victim, the age of the accused, if a weapon or physical violence was used, if the accused threatened to use force, if the victim was drugged or physically unable to resist and if the victim was physically or mentally handicapped.

If convicted of rape, attempted rape or any felony sex crime in the state of Florida, you will be required to register as a sex offender. This can negatively impact your life in many ways once you are released from custody. Those designated as sexual offenders must register in the county they live in and will be photographed and have the following information made available to the public on the FDLE website:

• Name
• Date of Birth
• Permanent or Temporary Address
• Height, Weight, Race, Hair Color and Eye Color
• Location and Date of all Convictions
• E-mail and Instant Messenger Screen Names

Once you have been accused of rape or attempting to commit rape, you must act fast in order to protect your reputation and future. The Florida Sex Crimes Attorneys at Whittel & Melton can assess the charges against you and develop a powerful defense for your unique situation. In certain situations, it may be possible to have the charges against you significantly reduced or dropped.

If you or someone you love has been accused of or charged with attempting to commit a sex crime in Alachua County or elsewhere in the state of Florida, contact the Florida Sex Crimes Attorneys at Whittel & Melton online or call our Gainesville office at 1-352-264-7800. You can reach us anytime statewide and toll-free by dialing 866-608-5529.