Lang
3/8/20
A new trial date has been set for a Cedar Rapids man accused of strangling and sexually assaulting a woman on the Ped Mall.
24-year-old William Pearson of Oakland Road Northeast was originally scheduled for a January 28th trial. Last December, Judge Lars Anderson pushed that date back to March 31st. On Friday, Pearson waived his right to a speedy trial, and it was delayed again by Judge Andrew Chappell until June 2nd.
The alleged victim reported being attacked by Pearson just after 12:30am on November 17th, 2018 on the Linn Street side of the Ped Mall. She said she and Pearson had met at The Fieldhouse bar, then went outside and began kissing when Pearson put his hand down her pants and committed sex acts against her will. When she tried to stop him, he allegedly began strangling her, making her lose consciousness. She suffered pain, bruising, redness and burst blood vessels in her eyes, neck and face.
When the woman woke up, she joined back up with her friends at The Union Bar, where she saw Pearson about 20 minutes after the alleged assault.
In interviews with police, Pearson and one of his friends both admitted to being at The Union. The friend also admitted that Pearson had met a girl at The Fieldhouse and left.
Surveillance recordings show Pearson and the woman leaving The Fieldhouse and going into an alley. They also show Pearson fleeing the area of the alleged assault.
Pearson admitted to kissing a girl in the alley, but denied the assault. He’s charged with 2nd Degree Sexual Abuse and Willful Injury Causing Serious Injury. If convicted, he faces a maximum of 30 years in prison.
A case management conference is set for April 24th.