SEMO student arrested on first-degree rape charges after alleged dorm assault

A SEMO student faces charges of first-degree rape and is in jail on a $50,000 cash-only bond after allegedly forcing sex upon a student in his dorm. Sacorie Burgess, 22, of St. Louis, was arrested two weeks after allegedly engaging in nonconsensual and unprotected intercourse in his dorm.

According to a probable-cause statement issued by a SEMO DPS officer, the alleged rape happened on Sunday, Aug. 18. A day later, according to the court document that explains to the court why a person should be charged with a crime, a specialist with Southeast Missouri Network Against Sexual Violence (NASV) conducted an interview with the accuser.

In the interview, the accuser told officers she explicitly told Burgess that she did not want to have sex before he “got into bed with her” and “hugged her tightly,” and then proceeded to remove her clothes and begin intercourse.

On Aug. 27, the SEMO DPS officer interviewed Burgess, who told the officer he “f—-- up” and “expressed remorse for his actions and acknowledged the impact of what he had done.” He told police he did not believe the accuser genuinely meant no. “Burgess admitted that he knew the sexual activity was not consensual and expressed feelings of guilt, stating he felt like a rapist,” according to the probable cause statement.

The probable cause document also states that the accuser was sore from a gym session during the attack, and she had bruises on her wrists and arms from “roughhousing” with Burgess previously.

Graphic by Lily Niebrugge

The accuser reported that the crime occurred on Aug. 18, and Burgess confessed to the alleged sexual assault on Aug. 27. However, Burgess was not arrested until his arrest warrant was signed on Sept. 11.

One SEMO student, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told the Arrow that they saw Burgess at the student recreation center gym two days before the arrest.

It’s unclear why Burgess was not taken into custody immediately. Dr. Rich Flotron, the director of the Department of Safety, said he could not comment on the case or the reasons for the delay in the arrest.

Burgess is being represented by attorney Scott N. Rosenblum. Judge Frank E. Miller is overseeing the case.

This is an ongoing story. For updates, check southeastarrow.com.