Levy pleads not guilty in sexual assault case

Taylor Rogers

UPDATE:

Giovanni D. Levy plead not guilty at his arraignment Monday and is now being held on a $3 million cash surety bond.

Stephen Michniak, assistant Portage County prosecutor, said during Levy’s arraignment Monday that another male student has come forward alleging Levy sexually assaulted him in August.

Michniak said the complaint came from a student, but he did not specify a university.

“I’m looking forward to having that guy put away,” one of the victims said. It is a practice of the Daily Kent Stater to not publish names of alleged sexual assault victims.

Though he preferred not to be identified, he added that he hopes Levy will be unable to make a case for himself.

A pretrial is set for Oct. 28 at 9 a.m. and a jury trial for Nov. 1 at 9 a.m.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE:

Levy was indicted by a grand jury Friday morning on one count of rape, one count of aggravated burglary and two counts of sexual imposition.

His arraignment is set for Monday, Sept. 12 at 11 a.m. at the main courthouse. Officials at the Portage County Clerks office said they will then schedule a pretrial hearing followed by a trial.

No attorneys have been appointed.

ORIGINAL:

A 29-year-old Kent man was arrested and charged with rape and sexual imposition of two Kent State male students in the past two weeks.

Giovanni D. Levy, of 1605 South Water St., Apt. 10, was arrested and charged with one count each of rape, a first-degree felony, and sexual imposition, a first-degree misdemeanor.

The alleged rape occurred Aug. 21 in the 200 block of East College Avenue, according to a criminal case filed by Kent Police. Because the charge was a felony, Levy did not enter a plea pending a preliminary hearing set for Friday.

The second incident allegedly took place Saturday in the 500 block of South Lincoln Street, according to court records. Records show Levy pleaded not guilty to that charge.

Levy is registered as a sexual oriented offender, according to the Portage County Sheriff’s Office sex offender registry website. The previous victim was also a male, according to the website.

Brad Tansey contributed reporting.