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OU Student Pleads Not Guilty In False Statements Case
By: Jordan Kelley
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ATHENS — The Ohio University student charged with three counts of making a false alarm has entered a not guilty plea on all three counts.
Anna Ayers, 21, of Ligonier, Pennsylvania, was formally charged after an Ohio University Police investigation found that Ayers sent herself threatening messages, including a death threat.
Ayers was not present at a Thursday court proceeding, but her attorney, Pat McGee, filed a continuance in the case. A pre-trial date was set for October 25 at 10 a.m. before Judge Todd Grace.
The student also resigned from her position on the OU Student Senate amid the court case.
Student Senate President Maddie Sloat began Wednesday evening’s general body meeting with a statement addressing the charges against Ayers.
“I’d like to emphasize that these are charges only at this point,” Sloat said. “Anna also resigned from her position as SAC (Student Appropriations Commission) Commissioner, effective yesterday.”
While Sloat indicated that Senate executives are available for general questions, she encouraged students to seek assistance through campus resources, such as the campus LGBT Center and University Counseling and Psychiatric Services.
Sloat addressed conversations surrounding this incident during the meeting.
“I do not for one second regret any of the actions we took in the past week to support Anna based on the information we had at the time,” Sloat said.
Following the statement, per routine meeting procedure, Sloat asked if any non-senate members in attendance wanted the opportunity to “speak out.” After pausing for just under four seconds, Sloat moved straight into routine announcements.
While the meeting was not heavily attended by non-senate members, those who did expressed concern at the lack of opportunity given to speak.
Senior Communications student Blake Milore said, “I felt disappointed because I didn’t feel anyone that was in attendance as students were given adequate time to process the president’s statement and respond with questions or comments.”
WOUB has reached out to Ayers multiple times for comment, but has yet to receive a response.