PHOTO: The view from Cherokee Rock Village in Sand Rock, Alabama. A Florida State University student is accused of unwanted sexual contact with another climber in an incident on a FSU Rock Climbing Club trip in Sand Rock last weekend. (Tyler Pruett | Southern Torch)
By Tyler Pruett, Managing Editor
SAND ROCK, Ala. — The second weekend in November was a big one for Florida State University's climbing club. Members packed their gear and traveled over 300 miles from Tallahassee to Northeast Alabama's premier rock climbing location, Cherokee Rock Village in Sand Rock, Alabama. What should have been a fun weekend has now been rocked by sexual abuse allegations.
Patrick Cox, an enrolled student at FSU, was extradited back to Cherokee County by Investigator Tony Monroy and Chief Investigator Josh Summerford around 1 am Thursday and charged with First Degree Sexual Abuse, a Class C Felony in Alabama.
A group from FSU traveling to Sand Rock to climb Cherokee Rock Village's unique tall rock formations is nothing out of the ordinary, according to Park Manager Shannon Mackey.
"We have school groups come from all over to climb and camp," said Mackey, who couldn't recall the Florida State University group specifically, due to the amount of climbers who make the trip every weekend.
Rock Village is one of the area's main outdoor attractions, and even Matthew McConaughey visited the park in 2005 to film a scene of the romantic comedy, Failure to Launch. While this incident occurred here, it is known to be a safe area and climbers who visit face very little danger other than negotiating the park's rock formations.
"An incident like this could happen anywhere. It's bad that it did. We have very few violent crimes. Most of what we deal with are drug crimes and property crimes," explained Cherokee County Sheriff Jeff Shaver.
The group of FSU students carpooled the five hour trip with some departing from Tallahassee on Thursday and some Friday and returning that Sunday. During the day, the students tackled the various rock formations in the park. And at night, the group made camp in the park's campground.
Cox himself posted a photo album from the trip to the group's Facebook Page earlier last week, shortly before his arrest.
According to the complaint filed with the Cherokee County Circuit Clerk's Office, the incident occurred approximately 3 am, early on Sunday morning, November 11.
According to the documents, Cox is accused of, "subjecting (name excluded to protect the victim) to sexual contact, who was incapable of consent by reason of being physically helpless or mentally incapacitated."
While the exact details of the incident are unknown, the complaint indicates the victim was mentally incapacitated, which is defined by Alabama law as,"that a person is rendered temporarily incapable of appraising or controlling their conduct owing to the influence of a narcotic or intoxicating substance administered to (the victim) without (the victim's) consent, or to any other incapacitating act committed upon (the victim) without (the victim's) consent." Leading one to believe alcohol or drugs were involved in the incident.
According to Sheriff Jeff Shaver, the incident was reported to the Tallahassee Police Department after returning from the climbing trip.
"Since it happened in Cherokee County, and the victim did not report it until she returned to Tallahassee, the Tallahassee Police Department there contacted our investigators. They worked with our investigators and they did a great job helping us out. Our guys went down and did some search warrants and did some interviews, made the arrest, and the subject waived extradition," said Shaver.
"The folks in Tallahassee really did an excellent job and were very good to us. They helped us out a lot and we really appreciate it," said Shaver.
According to a spokesperson for Florida State University, Cox is currently enrolled at the university for, "non-degree seeking coursework," and had recently completed his undergraduate degree. Though it is not clear about the victim's status at the school, it can be reasonably assumed that the individual was enrolled at the university as well, since the trip was for students, through the University's Recreation Department.
We reached out to the University Recreation Department, but the Coordinator for Sport Clubs with FSU was just being made aware of the incident, and would be able to provide more information at a later time about Cox's specific role in the club.
