Peter Mesko, Cornell University wrestler, charged with rape
(CBS/AP) ITHACA, N.Y. - Peter Mesko, a 22-year-old Cornell University wrestler, has been charged after a woman said she woke up to find him raping her, and the woman's partner later took a photo that led to his arrest.
Mesko, of Honesdale, Pa., was charged Tuesday with first-degree rape. He was freed on $5,000 bail, to appear in court Friday.
The Ithaca Journal reports that court papers say the women were sleeping early Saturday when one awoke to find a stranger on top of her, and that the women fought him off and ran upstairs.
Investigators say the victim's partner then went back to the bedroom and took two pictures of the man lying on the bed, which the women used to identify Mesko by looking him up on the athletic department's website.
Officer Jamie Williamson of the Ithaca police said Thursday that the assault took place at a residence off campus, but he declined to say whether the victim was a Cornell student.
According to court documents, the alleged victim's partner was awakened around 1:30 a.m. by the noise of her housemates and their friends playing drinking games outside her room. She noticed some Cornell wrestlers among them when she went to ask them to quiet down.
The alleged victim said she woke up at 4:45 a.m. to find a stranger raping her, and her cries awoke her partner. The women say they ran upstairs and barricaded themselves in another room, and that Mesko tried to get in, but the door was locked. About a half-hour later, the women said, they dashed downstairs, dressed and left the residence, where Mesko was asleep on a futon.
The alleged victim went to an emergency room to have a rape kit done, then contacted police.
According to the Cornell athletics department website, Mesko is a junior enrolled in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.Last year, he took third place in the New York State Intercollegiate Tournament. He competed as a wrestler and a football fullback and linebacker at Honesdale High School.
According to CBS affiliate WBNG, Cornell University officials declined to comment, citing an active investigation.
Mesko is scheduled to appear in Ithaca City Court on April 5 for additional proceedings.