Arraignment of three UCLA fraternity members suspected of rape postponed
Editor’s Note: This piece was updated Jan. 28, 2026 to add a link to another story, which indicates that charges were dropped.
Monday, July 1, 1996
By Marie Blanchard
Summer Bruin Senior Staff
The arraignment of three UCLA students charged with the rape of
a fellow student last month has been postponed.
The three students, Kristof Hamrick, 21, Cheyenne Mount, 20, and
Jack Ripsteen, 21, were arrested on June 1 for allegedly raping
another student at a weekend event in Palm Springs. All three
students are members of the Zeta Beta Tau fraternity.
[Related: Rape charges dropped against UCLA students]
The alleged rape took place at the Royal Sun Hotel in Palm
Springs, which had been rented out for the weekend by members of
the fraternity. According to the alleged victim, the three men
raped her after she had gone back to their hotel room.
According to the alleged victim, she and the three suspects had
been drinking heavily and smoking marijuana the night of the rape,
said Detective Michael McCabe of the Palm Springs police.
The three suspects have claimed that two of them had consensual
sex with the alleged victim in the hotel room, said ZBT lawyer Gary
Schwartz.
Unless the District Attorney drops the charges, the three
suspects will be facing charges of rape when they are
arraigned.
Related Stories:
UCLA investigates Zeta Beta Tau’s weekender
Students arrested in alleged rape case (6/6/96)
Communities react to hype, stereotypes (6/6/96)
Rape awareness rally draws 200 (6/10/96)
Talk about the allegations in forums
Related links:
Sexual Assault Information Page
“Friends” Raping Friends–Could It Happen to You?
Fraternity Gender Discrimination Bibliography
