The New York City Police Department has charged an 18-year-old Yale student with alleged sexual assault on a Manhattan subway train last month. The suspect, who has been identified as Ari Shtein, of Washington, D.C., was arrested on July 8.
Court records show Shtein faces charges including first-degree sexual abuse, third-degree aggravated sexual abuse, and forcible touching on a bus or train. The charges stem from an alleged incident on June 28 at approximately 3 p.m. aboard a northbound R train approaching the West 28th Street and Broadway subway station in Manhattan.
According to court records, a 30-year-old woman was allegedly sexually abused while riding the train. She exited at the station and was transported by EMS to a local hospital for treatment, while the suspect remained aboard the train.
Ari Shtein's attorney, Priya Chaudhry, has denied the allegations in a statement. "Every strap-hanger has encountered unhinged people on the subway. Unfortunately, when Ari visited our City, it was his turn," Chaudhry said. "Ari did not assault anyone. He was visiting bookstores with a friend when his life was turned upside down by a woman who falsely accused him of a vile crime."
The attorney also challenged the allegations on factual grounds. "The allegation is nonsense. On the woman's own version of events, she would have had to have been wearing a swimsuit for the alleged conduct to have been physically possible," she said. "The subway car was packed. If you were on that train, and witnessed this woman's behavior, please contact my firm."
Shtein is listed as a staff columnist for the Yale Daily News opinion desk, where his most recent column was published in May. Following his arrest, the publication had indefinitely suspended him from the paper pending the results of the legal process.
Shtein's arrest has sparked a heated debate on social media, with some calling for his immediate expulsion from Yale. However, the university has yet to comment on the matter.
The Manhattan District Attorney's Office has refused to comment on the case, citing the ongoing legal proceedings.
