Wichita State student smiles in mugshot as charged with rape — 2nd on campus this month

A teenage Wichita State University student sickeningly smiled in his mugshot as he was charged with rape — the second arrest on campus for the sex crime in less than a month.

James Vandenberg, a 19-year-old freshman, was taken into custody Saturday at an on-campus dormitory, WSU student paper The Sunflower reported.

He was seen with a big smile as he was booked at the Sedwick County Jail where he was held on a $100,000 bond before he bonded out.

James Vandenberg, 19, is charged with rape. Sedgwick County Jail

Additional details about the alleged rape were not immediately available.

Earlier this month, Wichita State student Aaron Christian was arrested by campus police for aggravated domestic battery and rape.

After Christian’s arrest, Wichita State University Director of Communication Lainie Mazzullo-Hart told local outlet KWCH in a statement the school, which has more than 18,000 students, “takes all reports of sexual assault seriously.”


An aerial view shows Wichita State University during summer break on Saturday, Sept. 5, 2020.
There have been two arrests for rape at the Kansas state school this month. Jacob – stock.adobe.com

“Sexual violence has no place in any campus community, and we are committed to following all applicable laws, reporting, investigative and student-support processes,” she said.

WSU did not immediately respond to The Post’s request for comment.

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