Lang
10/18/23
Iowa City Police have charged a Cedar Rapids man they suspect of a sexual assault.
Last week the ICPD issued a news release looking for information about a sexual assault that reportedly occurred near the 200 block of South Van Buren Street. The suspect, 25-year-old Anthony Cotner Jr. of 7th Avenue SE, was booked into the Johnson County Jail just after 4:45 Wednesday afternoon.
According to arrest records, the reported victim was walking by the Pre-Game Lounge and Hookah Bar…formerly known as “H Bar”…when Cotner invited her inside. When the woman refused, Cotner reportedly grabbed her and tried dragging her into the bar. When that was unsuccessful, he allegedly began strangling her with both hands before sexually assaulting her in the alley and parking lane of 505 East College Street. The woman suffered multiple injuries.
DNA found on the woman’s clothing matched that of Cotner, who allegedly told police he was in the area at the time but had no idea how his DNA could have been found on the woman’s garments.
Security video of the scene reportedly shows a man wearing clothing similar to Cotner’s and fitting his description.
Cotner is charged with 2nd Degree Sexual Abuse. If convicted, he faces a maximum of 25 years in prison.