Prosecutors file fourth charge against former Oklahoma State University student

Stillwater police have said they think victims in the case could number into the dozens, with incidents occurring on campus at OSU, elsewhere in Stillwater and in Tahlequah.

University officials learned of the assault reports Nov. 12, but concerns over federal student privacy laws led them not to share this information with police. Instead, they held conduct hearings resulting in a decision to suspend Cochran from the university for three years beginning with the end of the fall 2012 semester.

Police opened an investigation into the sexual assault cases Dec. 7, after a reporter from the campus newspaper contacted the department with questions about the incidents. That investigation began 3½ weeks after OSU officials became aware of the matter.

Cochran's attorneys did not return calls for comment.