Former MU professor pleads not guilty in sex abuse case

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A former University of Missouri assistant research professor pleaded not guilty to a charge of sexual abuse in a case going back to April.

Henok Woldu is accused of taking a woman back to his apartment and sexually assaulting her after they had been drinking at a club inside the Tiger Hotel in downtown Columbia.

Online court records show Woldu entered a not guilty plea on Feb. 5.

Court documents say Woldu bought the woman multiple drinks and she later vomited in the bathroom at the bar. His probable cause statement shows Woldu can be seen on security camera footage helping the woman stand, then leaving the club with the victim.

Documents show Woldu took off the woman's clothes and carried her to his bed, he then took off his clothes and also got into the bed. The victim told police he touched the woman while she was naked.

The woman recorded a conversation between the pair the next morning. According to Woldu's PC statement, he admitted to the sexual assault and told the victim 'it was human nature.'

An MU spokesman said Woldu worked at the office of medical research between August of 2018 and Dec. 13, 2019.

Woldu's arraignment was held on Monday. Online court documents do not show when he is scheduled to be back in court.