A 21-year-old UK student was arrested on Tuesday by Lexington Police and charged in Fayette County with rape and sodomy.

Patrick Melton Jr. pled not guilty to both charges during his first court appearance on Wednesday. He was released the day before on a $17,500 bond.

“It would be my hope that the University of Kentucky keeps him on campus,” Noel Caldwell, Melton’s attorney, told reporters Wednesday.

The Kernel asked UK if Melton will be able to continue his studies while the court proceedings are ongoing, but UK spokesperson Jay Blanton said the administration does not discuss disciplinary issues involving students as a matter of policy. 

Noel Caldwell said that his office is ready to “defend this case to the very end.”

“We look forward to vigorously defending this case,” Caldwell said. “We look forward to the facts coming out.” 

According to court records cited in a Herald-Leader report, the alleged sexual assault occurred at Melton’s residence near campus where the victim had passed out after drinking alcohol and becoming intoxicated the night before.

Early the next morning on July 6, court records show Melton woke the victim and told her that he wanted to have sex with her. 

She said “no” to him several times because she was not on birth control and neither of them had a condom, according to court records. Melton continued his advances and sexually assaulted her, despite her saying “no” and her attempts at pushing him away and escaping.

“Yeah I know we kinda hooked up I was gonna see what you thought about that,” court records say Melton allegedly texted the victim the next day. She responded that it “spooked” her. To which Melton replied that he had “no problem pretending nothing happened.”

Several witnesses told police that the victim was intoxicated and passed out before Melton woke her, court records show. 

Caldwell confirmed that Melton is the son of Franklin County Sheriff Pat Melton.  

“This has nothing to do with the Franklin County Sheriff’s office,” Caldwell said.

He said Sheriff Melton appreciates the “outpouring of support” from the community in Frankfort.