A Piqua man faces charges of sexual battery and aggravated burglary following an incident involving an Ohio University student Sept. 2.

Brian Cassel, 21, allegedly broke into a house on North Congress Street after seeing a woman on a couch in the home, said Athens Police Department Officer Rick Olexa.

"The female was either asleep or passed out from being uptown and her friends had been checking on her," Olexa said. "A friend walked in 15 to 20 minutes later (from the last check) and found the guy with her."

The friend detained Cassel and called the APD.

Cassel appeared in Athens City Municipal Court Friday and his case was sent to the Athens County Grand Jury.

If found guilty, Cassel faces punishment of one to five years in prison with a fine of $10,000 for sexual battery, a third degree felony, and a minimum of three years for aggravated burglary, a first degree felony.

Sexual assault is considered sexual battery when someone is coerced into performing acts that include either vaginal, anal or oral intercourse that is unwanted or when the person's ability to consent was impaired.

There is no date set for Cassel's next appearance.

During the past three years, reported cases of sexual assaults have gone down in the Athens area. According to the OU Police Department, there were 33 assaults reported in 1996, and in 1998 there were only 23 reported assaults.

Victims of sexual assault can receive help from a number of local agencies. The OU Department of Health Education and Wellness offers medical, emotional and legal/ judicial help to victims. Along with this program, the Hudson Health Center offers 24 hour Sexual Assault Nurse Exam. It is a national program with trained nurses who perform a physical examinations after a sexual assault and document any injuries for evidence, treat for sexually transmitted diseases and a potential pregnancy and help the victim emotionally, said Jeanine Woodruff, assistant director of the Department of Health Education and Wellness.

The Sexual Assault Survivor Advocate Program offers services to victims of sexual assault. The program helps with the different stages that victims go through such as the medical exam and legal process. John Hall, coordinator for the program said support groups to help heal are available.

"People go through many different emotions after being sexually assaulted," Hall said. "They could be completely hysterical and crying or completely numb, denying anything happened; it really depends on the person."