Dathan Trevino EDINBURG – According to the 2025 and 2026 UTRGV Annual Security and Fire Safety reports, from 2022-2025, University Police has received a total of nine alleged sexual assault reports on the Edinburg campus and two on the Brownsville campus.
These are cases directly reported to UTRGV Police. Another university office may have also received reports; however, those cannot be investigated by the university, unless consented to.
According to the Texas Penal Code Chapter 22, definitions for sexual assault include “the penetration of the anus or sexual organ of another person by any means, without that person’s consent.”
Although the UTRGV Office for Advocacy & Violence Prevention website defines sexual assault as rape, fondling, incest and statutory rape, Samuel Hernandez, a University Police lieutenant, said “criminalwise” fondling would not be considered sexual assault.
In the Texas Penal Code, fondling is classified as indecent assault.
In 2022 University Police received five reported sexual assault and indecent assault cases on the Edinburg and Brownsville campuses.
In 2023, seven cases were reported to the University Police.
In 2024, UTRGV Police received only one report.
And in 2025, five cases were reported to P.D.
Hernandez said if a student believes they’ve been sexually assaulted, they should call University Police immediately.
“Please, please come and report any, any type of sexual offense that occurs to you,” Hernandez said. “We do have the resources and the expertise to conduct a fully, a full, inves- I’m sorry, full investigation.”
Hernandez said students can report sexual offenses by calling PD, visiting the department or walking up to an officer on campus.
He said students can make a report with any of the electronic methods PD offers, including the University Police website, email and the Campus Shield app.
Cynthia Jones, OAVP director, said it’s always up to the individual whether to report a sexual assault.
However, there is a medical window if they want to collect forensic evidence.
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