Preliminary hearing set for former UW student accused of assaulting 5 women

MADISON — A former University of Wisconsin-Madison student accused of sexual assault, strangulation and false imprisonment involving five women, including some he met at classes, will be back in court in December


A Dane County Circuit Court commissioner on Monday, November 28th scheduled a December 27th preliminary hearing for Alec Cook.

The 20-year-old Edina, Minnesota man is facing 14 felony charges and one misdemeanor in a criminal complaint that accuses him of trying to choke one of the women.

Cook's defense attorneys say his encounters with the women were consensual. Attorney Jessa Nicholson said Monday the defense will soon file a motion to dismiss some of the charges.

Cook is charged with second-degree, third-degree and fourth-degree sexual assault, strangulation and false imprisonment in cases dating back to March of 2015.