Crime and Courts

Saudi Arabian man accused of sexually assaulting girl pleads not guilty

Posted: Nov 8, 2012 12:23 PM by Erin Schattauer
Updated: Nov 8, 2012 3:50 PM

UPDATE: While Mohammed Al Muhaisen has been identified as a Montana State University student in court documents, MSU News Service director Tracy Ellig says Al Muhaisen was never enrolled at MSU. Ellig says he is a student in an English as a Second Language school that if he were to complete would allow him to enroll at MSU. MSU currently has a no trespass order against Al Muhaisen, Ellig added.

BOZEMAN - A Montana State University student accused of providing alcohol and marijuana to a teenage girl then sexually assaulting her pleaded not guilty today to the charges.

Mohammed Al Muhaisen, 26, of Saudi Arabia, pleaded not guilty to sexual intercourse without consent and unlawful transactions with a child. His bail was continued at $35,000 and he surrendered his passport to the clerk of court.

Al Muhaisen appeared in court with his cousin who served as an interpreter.

In October, a woman reported that her 15-year-old daughter was given alcohol and marijuana the night before at a West Garfield Street residence. The girl told police that she was partying at the house when she was sexually assaulted by Al Muhaisen, according to court documents.

The 15-year-old said she was highly intoxicated from drinking alcohol and smoking marijuana that night then woke up in a bedroom, according to court papers. Al Muhaisen came into the room and began touching her she said, although she told him to stop, court papers state. This continued and the girl fell asleep afterwards, according to court papers.

Al Muhaisen is attending MSU, studying English and mechanical engineering, according to an attorney who was representing him during his initial appearance in justice court in October. He is attending school here on a government scholarship from Saudi Arabia, she said.

His next court appearance is set for Dec. 18.