Prosecutors reviewing alleged rape at UCI party

Orange County prosecutors are reviewing UC Irvine’s investigation into sexual assault allegations made by one student against another after a party in August, authorities said.

Brian Timothy Russell, 21, of Irvine, was arrested Aug. 25 at his apartment in the Vista Del Campo apartments in the 62600 block of Arroyo Drive, hours after a female UCI student filed a rape report with the UCI Police Department on campus, police said.

Russell and the victim allegedly met through a mutual acquaintance at a party in the apartments, police said.

Alcohol was available at the party, but police have not determined whether it played a part in the case.

Campus police took Russell to Orange County Jail where he was booked and later released on bail, authorities said.

Once prosecutors review the case, they will take one of three courses of action, said Det. Caroline Altamirano. They could conduct further investigations, press charges or decline to file charges.

This is the first rape case on UCI’s campus in 2007, police said.

— Kelly Strodl