Charges dismissed in Virginia Tech rape investigation

BLACKSBURG, Va. (WDBJ) - Charges have been dismissed against a Blacksburg high school student who was accused of a sexual assault at a Virginia Tech dormitory.

William Venie, 18 of Blacksburg, was charged in September 2023 with rape, abduction, attempted sodomy, object sexual penetration and strangulation. Those charges have been dropped, according to court records obtained by WDBJ7.

Mary K. Pettitt, Montgomery County Commonwealth’s Attorney, said, “A preliminary hearing was held in front of Judge Gordon F. Saunders in General District Court. After hearing evidence, Judge Saunders ruled there was not probable cause and dismissed the charges. A decision has not been made whether or not to proceed with a direct indictment before the grand jury.”

Campus police had been called to Pritchard Hall, where the person identified as the victim said she had been sexually assaulted. According to records, she told officers she met Venie through Snapchat and that the two agreed to have consensual sex, but that the encounter led to him forcibly assaulting her.