Former Temple Fraternity President Ari Goldstein Ordered To Stand Trial On Sex Assault Charges
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PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - The former president of a suspended Temple University fraternity has been ordered to stand trial on sexual assault charges.
Ari Goldstein was ordered to stand trial Wednesday following a preliminary hearing on charges related to a sexual assault at the Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity house in February.
Defense attorney Perry de Marco Sr. says his client will testify in his own defense.
"He's definitely going to prepare for trial and it's going to be a hell of a trial because I'll tell you what this is -- this is 'Me Too' gone wild. That's what it is. I guarantee it," said de Marco. "If I don't show you that when this trial is over, I'll stand on my head in the middle of Filbert Street."
On Thursday morning, that young woman took the stand and testified during a preliminary hearing, saying Goldstein forced himself on her inside his third-floor fraternity house bedroom during a party on Feb. 25.
"They struggled for a lengthy period of time. She made efforts to leave," said prosecutor Lauren Stramm.
She said Goldstein invited her to his room to smoke marijuana with other frat members, but once inside no one else was there and he then locked the door.
She said he touched her breast and tried forcing her to perform a sex act on him. She said he told her, "You want to do this. This is what you to to do," while repeatedly shushing her.
"She is a very strong young lady. She is articulate and she was very clear in what she went through," said Stramm.
Stramm says she believes the case against Goldstein is strong and it appears de Marco Sr. is up for the challenge.
"I want a Philadelphia jury, yes I do. I want those Northeast Philadelphia people all related to cops. That's who I want on this jury. Yeah, I want harda**es on this jury, and we're going to win," he said.
Goldstein has denied the charges.
