BELCHERTOWN — A University of Massachusetts Amherst student pleaded not guilty Oct. 21 in Eastern Hampshire District Court to numerous assault charges.

Dan Idhenga, 19, was charged with indecent assault and battery on a person over 14, three charges of assault and battery, assault and battery on a police officer, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct and disturbing the peace.

Little is known about the Sept. 18 event which resulted in Idhenga’s arrest. The statement of facts in the case were impounded “due to sexual nature,” according to the criminal docket entry.

A request to the UMass Amherst Office of News & Media Relations for the police report was denied.

“Under the statutory exemption of the Massachusetts Public Records Law, the UMass Amherst Police Department is not releasing the police report on the arrest of Dan (Idhenga) on Sept. 18, 2016,” a university spokesman wrote in an email. The university cited Massachusetts laws that state “ all reports of rape or sexual assault ‘shall not be public records.’”

Idhenga was released on personal recognizance but had to surrender his passport and passport identification card. Idhenga is also not to have contact with numerous people involved in the incident and must stay away from the Pita Pit eatery.

Idhenga will next appear in court on Dec. 5 for a pretrial hearing.

Emily Cutts can be reached at ecutts@gazettenet.com.

]]>