The trial of Amherst alumnus Taharqa "T." Patterson '05 is scheduled to commence next month at the Hampshire County Superior Court. According to Hampshire County Prosecutor Renee Steese, Patterson, 24, has been charged with one count of Rape, in violation of Massachusetts General Law Chapter 265, Section 22(b), for which the maximum penalty is 20 years in prison, and one count of Entering Without Breaking a Building at Night in violation of M.G.L. Chapter 266, Section 17, for which the maximum penalty is 10 years in prison.

Steese explained that the judge ranks the cases set for October and assigns them their respective dates as the month nears. The final pre-trial conference has been scheduled for Oct. 6. Steese declined to comment further on the case so as to avoid influencing the jury.

The alleged incident occurred on the night of May 28, 2005, during Reunion Weekend at Humphries House, also known as the Zu. The College did not disclose the allegations until an indictment was filed because at the time of the alleged crime school was not in session and neither Patterson nor the alleged victim was enrolled at Amherst. As a result, few students were aware of the allegations until opinion articles were submitted to The Student by friends of the victim and of the accused. Co-author of one of the op-eds, Davi Lakind '06 shared that she and others spoke with Campus Police, who banned Patterson from campus. College Chief of Police John Carter confirmed that Patterson's ban is still in effect.

Patterson, a Manhattan native, was indicted on both counts on Sep. 13 of last year. Two weeks later he was arrested and arraigned at the Hampshire County Court House where he pleaded not guilty to both charges. Patterson was later released on $2,500 bond.

Patterson's attorney, Leonard H. Cohen, is a partner at Cain, Hibbard, Myers, & Cook of Pittsfield. Neither Cohen nor Patterson were available for comment.