Psi U president Ballinger forbidden from campus
Victim identified him after 2am incident
Wolfgang Ballinger is now facing repercussions from Cornell in the wake of the sexual assault charges levied against him.
According to Deputy Director of Media Relations Melissa Osgood, the 21-year-old is “not permitted on campus at this time.”
Ballinger, a junior in the School of Hotel Administration, was released from police custody following his preliminary hearing in Ithaca City Court this morning. He is due back in court to face a Grand Jury.
Ballinger, 21. Photo: Tompkins County Jail
There has been no word on where he will be will be staying for the duration of his legal battle. His fraternity and former residence, Psi Upsilon, has been suspended as of February 1.
Ballinger, 21, was arrested Friday after Cornell police identified him with help from the alleged victim. He said last week he will plead not guilty to attempted rape in the first degree, criminal sexual act in the first degree, and sex abuse in the first degree.
His alleged victim reported the assault occurred around 2am on Sunday morning after she was led to a bedroom at 2 Forest Park Lane, the Psi Upsilon house.
According to court documents, she said Ballinger locked the door and forced himself on her despite verbal protest that she was not interested.
Ballinger is accused of forceful oral sex and using his hands to sexually abuse the alleged victim, as well as attempting forcible sexual intercourse.
Source: Vimeo/Zoran Kole
Ballinger is a graduate of the prestigious Columbia Grammar and Preparatory School on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, which costs around $45,000 per year to attend. He played on the varsity soccer team.
The dean of the prep school sent an email to seniors about Ballinger’s case.
His father owns Webster Hall, an iconic nightclub and concert venue in the East Village of Manhattan. In 2013, Webster Hall made Celebrity Net Worth’s list of highest grossing nightclubs in the country.
Tompkins County District Attorney Gwen Wilkinson, who will prosecute Ballinger, said she considers alcohol to be “probably one of the largest contributing factors” to sexual assault on campus.
Wilkinson said: “What I see over and over again…is the underage drinking on campuses that so often create an environment where violence, sexual assault and other things that happen in a thoughtless moment ruin people’s lives forever.
“If college campuses would stop permitting, or turning a blind eye, or not enforcing underage drinking, I think we would see a very different picture.”