As a Hamline University student prepared to leave a house party in May 2016, her sister’s roommate offered to walk her back to her dorm room. Her sister had asked him to make sure she got back safely, he reportedly told her.

When they got back to her room, he invited himself in, admitted he made up the story, and raped her, according to criminal charges filed in Ramsey County District Court.

A warrant has been issued for the arrest of Pierce Gerald Heston, 23, of Hinckley, Minn., who was charged with one count of first-degree criminal sexual conduct, according to the criminal complaint.

“The victim showed tremendous courage and strength in coming forward to the university and the police. Her welfare is and continues to be of the utmost importance to us,” Hamline University said in a statement. “The university worked closely with both the victim and the accused individual to ensure that appropriate support, investigation, and adjudication procedures and timelines were followed as set forth by our Sexual Misconduct Policy and Title IX.”

Hamline University officials wouldn’t immediately say whether Heston was a student at the school. However, according to his Facebook page says he studied at Hamline.

Heston could not be be reached for comment Friday.

After the incident, the victim eventually escaped to the bathroom where she texted several friends for help. One called her, realized something was wrong, and came over. The victim used her friend as a shield from Heston, according to court documents.

“Why would you screw around with a drunk person?” the friend reportedly asked Heston. He responded that he also was drunk, and then walked away, the complaint said.

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After man sentenced to 40 years in St. Paul murder, courthouse locked down and shots fired nearby The victim was later taken to Regions Hospital, where she reported details of the assault, according to court documents.

The next day, Heston told his roommate that he had made a mistake but didn’t want to talk about it, according to the complaint.

“It takes tremendous courage for victims of sexual violence to report to police for a variety of reasons; they may be embarrassed or fearful of the perpetrator, or fear they won’t be believed,” Ramsey County Attorney John Choi said in a statement. “I am grateful this victim had the support she needed to come forward through her friends on campus.”