Man accused of sexually assaulting Columbus State student had just been released from jail
Editor’s note: This story contains information of an alleged sexual assault and has details that may be disturbing for some readers.
A suspect arrested and charged with rape of a Columbus State University student Friday had been released from jail the same day after serving time on a public indecency charge, according to jail records.
Hosni Batebawia, 20, faces charges of aggravated sexual battery, aggravated assault, rape and hijacking a motor vehicle, according to CSU. He’s accused of assaulting a student in a parking deck, and he made a court appearance Wednesday where he pleaded not guilty. Investigators provided more information about the alleged assault during that hearing.
CSU spokesman Michael Tullier confirmed the incident Monday.
“Columbus State University Police received a report of an assault of a student in the city parking deck that serves our RiverPark Campus,” Tullier said. “The suspect fled the scene but was later apprehended and is now in custody. UPD is now actively investigating the matter and cannot comment further until it concludes that investigation.”
Jail records indicate Batebawia had previously been arrested in October 2024 on charges of public indecency, willful obstruction of law enforcement officers and terroristic threats and acts. Batebawia was convicted of those charges. He was released from jail in that case Friday, the same day of the alleged sexual assault, jail records show.
Capt. Ashley Cook with the CSU Police Department testified in court about the case Wednesday. The victim told investigators she was on the fourth floor of the parking deck and had put her bookbag in the front seat of her car when she was approached by a man asking for her phone number, according to Cook.
The victim said “no, thank you,” and told the man she was 17, according to Cook. The man said, “It’s okay, I’m 20,” according to Cook.
The victim walked around the front of the car and got into the driver’s seat, but the man got in the doorway and stopped the victim from closing the door, according to Cook’s testimony.
Cook said the man took the victim out of the vehicle, forcibly removed her clothes and sexually assaulted her. He also hit and choked her, according to Cook. Cook said the victim had visible bruising around her neck.
The victim screamed for help, and the man tried to force her into the trunk, but was unable to because she went to dead weight, Cook said.
The victim said the man then got into her car and left, Cook testified.
Cook said the parking deck had surveillance video that corroborated the victim’s statements.
Cook said you can hear the victim shout, “He is raping me,” in the surveillance video.
Cook said Batebawia admitted to hitting the victim, taking her vehicle and having sexual contact with her.
Meghan Bowden, assistant district attorney with the Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit, asked for additional counts of aggravated assault with the intent to rape and theft by taking motor vehicle. Bowden also asked for the hijacking a motor vehicle charge to be amended from second degree to first degree.
Judge David Ranieri, who presided over the hearing granted each of Bowden’s requests. Ranieri found probable cause on all charges and bound the case over to Superior Court, which is where Batebawia would face a criminal trial in the future.
Ranieri ordered Batebawia be held in jail without bond.
This story was originally published October 1, 2025 at 11:35 AM.