Lynchburg, VA - ABC13 News has confirmed that Jesse Matthew was the suspect in an alleged rape that happened on the campus of Liberty University in 2002 while he was a student there.

Matthew was never charged in that case and Liberty University will not confirm whether that rape had anything to do with Jesse Matthew.

Lynchburg Deputy Commonwealth's Attorney Chuck Felmlee looked up the Lynchburg police report and it showed that rape allegation was filed on that date against Jesse Matthew.

According to Felmlee there was no forensics evidence and no eyewitnesses.

The report indicates the rape allegedly happened behind the Vines Center, according to Felmlee.

After both Matthew and the victim gave statements to Lynchburg Police, Felmlee says ultimately the victim decided not to press charges against Matthew so he never faced any charges in that case.

This is a statement from Liberty University regarding Jesse Matthew.

Liberty University had a student by the name of Jesse Leroy Matthew enrolled from 2000 to 2002. This student was on the football team roster during the 2000 (redshirt freshman), 2001 and 2002 seasons. Based on information released by the Charlottesville Police Department, Liberty University can confirm that this former student is the same person arrested on Wednesday, September 24 on abduction charges. Liberty University and the Liberty University Police Department fully cooperated with requests for information from law enforcement agencies in connection with this matter. In light of federal student record privacy laws ("FERPA"), Liberty University is not providing further responses to your inquiries concerning Jesse Leroy Matthew. FERPA is the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974.

Regarding a report of sexual assault on Liberty University's campus in 2002, Liberty University Police Department maintains certain public records as required by the Clery Act. It maintains a public crime log. In 2002, the log was called the "Criminal Incident Log." The logs may be viewed in person at the Liberty University Police Department office upon request. They are not available online and are not electronically searchable. Below is a chart listing the nature, date, time, general location and disposition of all sex offences (forcible) reported on Liberty University's campus during 2002. Date Time Area Description Disposition 10/17/2002 0426 hrs. Vines Center Rape Report That October 17, 2002 incident was also incorporated into Liberty University's Campus Crime Reports for each year featuring 2002 statistics, also as required by the Clery Act. The October 1, 2003 Campus Crime Report is the first report with statistics compiled for reportable crimes during the 2002 calendar year and is available at the Liberty University Police Department upon request. That report is not on Liberty University's website. However, the data for 2002 is carried forward into the October 1, 2005 report. It can be viewed on page 4 of the PDF identified as the "2003 - 2005 Campus Crime Report" at the following link: http://www.liberty.edu/index.cfm?PID=18240; The 2002 data is the same on the reports from 2003, 2004 and 2005. The Clery Act is the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act. Liberty University can also report that the October 17, 2002 rape report was investigated by the Lynchburg Police Department and it is documented with a report that is on file in the Lynchburg Police Department's Records Section (Incident # 2002071459). We understand the matter was also turned over to the local Commonwealth Attorney's Office. Questions regarding investigation and disposition of the matter should be directed to those entities.

Originally posted here:

READ: Statement from Liberty University Confirming Jesse Matthew Was Student and Football Player