TUCSON (CN) - The dean of the University of Arizona College of Pharmacy was charged Wednesday with sexual assault, sexual abuse and aggravated assault, the Pima County Sheriff's Department said.
A grand jury indicted Jessie Lyle Bootman for an alleged Oct. 2 incident in the professor's Tucson home, the Sheriff's Department said in a statement.
The alleged adult victim claims she woke up on the morning of Oct. 3 at Bootman's home with "multiple injuries, some indicative of sexual assault."
"Detectives served a search warrant at Bootman's residence and found incriminating evidence," the sheriff's office said. "Combined with the victim's statements, results of the victim's medical examination, and additional evidence, detectives had developed the means to present the case to the County Attorney's Office for prosecution."
Bootman was arraigned in Pima County Superior Court on Wednesday and released. He was charged with sexual assault, sexual abuse and aggravated assault.
Bootman's attorney, Brad Roach, told the Arizona Daily Star that his client is "shocked and saddened that anyone would make claims against him or his conduct."
"At this point, Dr. Bootman is unclear as to the exact nature of the claims made against him but he absolutely denies any wrong doing," Roach said in a statement to the Star.
Bootman has been a UA faculty member since 1978, and dean of the College of Pharmacy since 1987, according to the school website.
He has been placed on leave pending a "review of the circumstances," the university said in a statement.
"We do not believe that the alleged events are connected to the university, and we will continue to monitor the legal proceedings," the school said.
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