Volume 126, No. 126
Tuesday, May 2, 2017
OPINION
COLLEGIAN GOES HEAD TO HEAD ON 13 REASONS WHY PAGE 6
Campus Catfisher identified as CSU employee Jalen Perez was recently charged with catfishing two females and sexually assaulting one of them. Perez was a resident assistant in Ingersoll Hall and an employee at the Student Recreation Center. PHOTO BY DAVIS BONNER COLLEGIAN
By Haley Candelario @H_Candelario98
Trigger warning: The Collegian would like to inform its readers that the content in this article may trigger those affected by sexual assault. A Colorado State University student recently charged for catfishing two of her female friends and sexually assaulting one of them has been identified as a resident assistant for Ingersoll Hall and an employee at the CSU Rec Center, the Collegian confirmed. Jalen Perez, a junior biological sciences major, posed as male CSU students by creating multiple Instagram accounts to pursue romantic relationships with two females she was friends with and sexually assaulted one of them, according to the police affidavit obtained by KDVR.com. The two females became suspicious of the two male students when plans to meet their virtual
boyfriends fell through multiple times. According to the arrest affidavit, the two females discovered that the numbers they texted for the two male CSU students were the same number and determined that Perez used the Pinger texting application to communicate with the two females. Perez sexually assaulted one of the females in September 2016, according to the arrest affidavit. The female told police she did not report the incident because the male student she was texting, who was really Perez, told her Perez did nothing wrong and said the female should give Perez a second chance. On Sept. 17, 2016, the victim texted who she believed to be her virtual boyfriend but was actually Perez. The supposed male student asked if the victim and Perez had spoken, then told the victim that Perez was in a car accident and she should reach out to Perez.
When the victim made it clear she did not want to talk to Perez, the false male identity told the victim over text message that the two should make up. “Well all I know is y’all better get over whatever it is real quick because you guys are too close for that fighting shit,” Perez wrote as the male identity. “Trust me, you don’t want to lose your best friend. Way worse than any relationship breakup.” On Feb. 21, both females Perez catfished were brought to Fort Collins Police Services when an advocate from CSU requested help regarding a sexual assault investigation. The victim attempted a pretext phone call, a tape recorded phone call between the suspect and the victim that is under supervision by a law enforcement officer, on Feb. 23 with Perez. Perez admits in the pretext phone call that what she did was “completely wrong” and
apologized to the victim numerous times. Perez went to FCPS on Feb. 27 to talk about the claims made against her by the females and to talk about the use of the Pinger see CATFISHER on page 4 >>
SPORTS
LACROSSE PREPARES FOR NATIONALS AFTER CU LOSS PAGE 8
A&C
Jalen Perez, 20, was charged with stalking and sexual assault. PHOTO COURTESY OF LARIMER COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE
APRIL SHOWERS BROUGHT MAY FLOWERS PAGE 10