Bentley University athlete charged with raping fellow student

WALTHAM, Mass. — 21-year-old Jacob Acker, a Bentley University Honors Athlete, pleaded not guilty in Middlesex Superior Court Thursday on charges of rape, assault to rape, and indecent assault and battery. Prosecutors say the victim was a 19-year-old Bentley student-athlete.

According to the Commonwealth’s Statement of the Case, the incident took place on February 20, 2021 inside Acker’s off-campus home in Waltham. A prosecutor wrote that Acker invited the victim to his home early that morning and that the victim told Acker she would not have sex with him.

At the home, the document says Acker drank hard alcohol and got intimate, but the woman ultimately refused to have sex. Later, when the woman woke up, she said she felt she had been violated. She told investigators Acker gave her a towel to clean up.

A friend of the woman gave her a ride to Newton Wellesley Hospital where she was treated for injuries and forensic evidence was collected. In September, a Middlesex Grand Jury handed up indictments against Acker.

Attorney Wendy Murphy is representing the victim.

“We’re obviously very pleased with the District Attorney’s Office because they felt it was important enough to file criminal charges in this case,” Murphy said.

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Under Federal Title IX Civil Rights laws, students of colleges that receive federal funding for athletic programs are protected against sexual discrimination and sexual assault. Both Acker and the victim were Bentley University student-athletes.

Murphy said Bentley University could have blocked Ackers’ graduation in May, but it did not. Now, Murphy is calling on the university to conclude its investigation.

“Even having a finding against him would be meaningful,” Murphy said. “Everyone on campus knows about these cases, and the students there, especially the women, are wondering ‘will Bentley do the right thing?’”

In a statement, a Bentley University spokesman said: “Nothing is more important than the safety and well-being of our community. While we are prohibited from commenting on an ongoing case, any incident that is reported is immediately investigated according to federal and state law, as well as Bentley’s own procedures. Bentley takes allegations of sexual assault and harassment extremely seriously and the university is dedicated to supporting and protecting people who report these incidents.”

After his arraignment, Jacob Acker was released on personal recognizance and ordered to stay away from the victim and from Bentley University. He is due back in court on November 22.

Editor’s Note: Murphy told Boston 25 News reporter Bob Ward that Acker graduated from Bentley last year and that he is in the graduation program. On Friday morning, the university told us Acker was able to walk but never received his degree.

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