Miami student expelled from previous university for sexual assault

Nicholas Shaw, a first-year student who started at Miami University this fall, served a six-day jail sentence in July 2019 after he was found guilty in relation to sexually assaulting a young woman last year.

Shaw, who is from Gaston, Indiana, previously attended Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) and was accused of sexually assaulting a woman, who was not a student at the school, on March 27, 2018.

IUPUI investigated the incident and found him responsible for sexual assault (non-consensual contact) and sexual exploitation, which violated the university’s student code of conduct. Shaw was expelled from IUPUI on June 21, 2018, and is restricted from visiting any Indiana University Campus or school-sponsored event, according to a letter from IUPUI obtained by The Miami Student.

Criminal charges were filed in Marion County, Indiana on June 22, 2018. Shaw was originally charged with two counts of rape, one count of criminal confinement with bodily injury and one count of criminal confinement.

But, on July 26, 2019, Shaw pleaded guilty to criminal confinement and Judge Stanley Kroh dismissed the other charges.

According to court documents, in addition to serving six days in jail, Shaw was also sentenced to an 898 day probation, ending in January 2021. The court instructed Shaw to go through psychological evaluation/treatment and that he cannot contact the woman who accused him of sexual assault.

Shaw was a first-year software engineering major but is no longer enrolled at Miami, said Director of Admission Bethany Perkins.

Shaw did not respond to The Student’s requests for comment.

"I cannot comment on any ongoing cases, but any student who provides false information on the application is subject to disciplinary action, including up to expulsion," Perkins said.

Director of University News and Communications Claire Wagner said she was not familiar with the case.

This article was updated to include information from Bethany Perkins and that Shaw is no longer enrolled at Miami.

@racheldberry