University of Wisconsin student accused of multiple sexual assaults

MADISON, Wisconsin — A woman's accusation that she was sexually assaulted by a 20-year-old University of Wisconsin student has led to several more possible victims coming forward, reports say.

Now the accused assailant, Alec R. Cook, is expected to be charged with up to 34 counts in connection with assaults on at least four women, WISC Channel 3 reports.

A 20-year-old female student filed the first report with police against Cook on Oct. 12, the Washington Post reports. 

According to the Post, the woman and Cook had met in public about four or five times before he invited her to his apartment. The woman reportedly told Cook she was not interested in having sex and Cook initially agreed.

A court affidavit says that about five minutes later, Cook began to kiss the woman forcefully and refused to stop despite her protests, the Post reports. Cook then assaulted the woman for 2 1/2 hours, including sexually, and slapped her and choked her until she nearly lost consciousness.

Upon news of Cook's arrest last week, more women, all students, came forward accusing him of sexual assault, NBC News reports. Madison police say they know of four victims.

But Dane County District Attorney Ismael Ozanne tells WISC that dozens of women have contacted investigators.

Also, WKOW Channel 27 reports police searched Cook's apartment and found a black book with the names of several women. Investigators said the book 

"Each entry showed how he met the female, and what he liked about them," a court affidavit says, according to WKOW. "Further entries went on to document what he wanted to do with the females. ... Disturbingly enough there were statements of 'kill' and statements of 'sexual' desires."

Collette Sampson, a Dane County prosecutor, tells the Post that investigators now believe Cook has been assaulting women since March 2015, growing more aggressive over time.

The university has put Cook on emergency suspension and he has been banned from campus, NBC News reports. He is being held in jail without bail and is expected to appear in court Thursday.

Cook has denied the allegations, according to reports, and his lawyers have criticized the "media firestorm" surrounding the case, the Post reports.