The author is happy to broadcast their account of this alleged assault to the public, so I don't think they'd have an issue reporting it to the authorities with the help of a charity. Statute of limitations is a few years on this so there is still time.
If you've nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear. This cuts both ways in a court of law, and the claims of an accuser are seldom taken at face value without reliable independent witness. It is innocent until proven guilty, so that the facts of the case can be used to ascertain guilt.
If the author really cares about justice, about women in IT, about sending a message, then they will do the right thing and prosecute. Unless of course the author is lying (wouldn't be the first time it has happened in a sexual assault case)...
See earlier link to one of the numerous charities that explicitly support female victims of sexual assault. Is it too hard for someone in tech to Google 'Sexual Support $location'?
It's not hard. The victim needs to be able to in the first place. Often they feel ashamed, which is crazy, sometimes they blame themselves even though its not their fault. That's the point I'm making.
And it's moot - if the author is telling the truth.
The author is not ashamed to very publicly make these (as yet) unsubstantiated claims. I assume talking to an abuse charity in private, who help with a police prosecution, causes less shame.
The only reason I can think why someone would not go to the police is because independent witnesses (see earlier references to CCTV, the likely sober bartenders over drinking buddies) would not back up a claim.
This was a crowded bar, surrounded by many people. I can only surmise that the reason they have not sought a prosecution is because they are lying/misleading, and they know they will be caught out.
Having let the furore subside a little, and after reading some more of the numerous comments and articles, "lying/misleading" is the wrong choice of words.
Although I do not buy that the accusers DUI and destructive behaviour are solely caused by this incident, I do not think the author is malicious in their intent.
Extremely sexualised behaviour led to the alleged assaulter going too far. He lost his job as a result, but this was not a criminal offence: HR didn't file a police report, and neither did the alleged victim. No-one else did either.
> HR didn't file a police report, and neither did the alleged victim. No-one else did either.
That's a bizarre definition of a criminal offence.
Many people do not contact law enforcement after sexual assault. This is for a variety of reasons including shame, stigma, embarrassment, fear of the forensic procedures, fear of the criminal justice and trial procedures, etc etc.
It's not a definition of a criminal offence, and nowhere did I imply that. It's an observation that numerous people witnessed an event or were made aware of it, yet not one of them contacted the police. The employers response (http://www.neo.com/2013/10/14/a-note-to-the-community-about-...), made no reference to a crime.
The closest law to not reporting a crime is Misprison of Felony (http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/4), although that would require management/HR knew a crime had been committed, and then concealed it. It would be suicide for EdgeCase/Neo to know a sexual assault had occurred and not report the alleged assaulter. It would be socially limiting for the immediate sober witnesses too (the bar staff, any CCTV of the area in question), and those whose judgement was impaired by alcohol.
No-one commenting was there, so this is all conjecture. If a crime was committed and no-one reported it, now is the time to do so. The full force of the law needs to be applied. I do not buy that someone willing to talk about this publicly online would not want to go through reporting this because of shame. If a crime has been committed, and they have the evidence, why not press charges?
