A New York State Supreme Court jury has convicted 33-year-old William Hathaway on charges of third-degree rape, stemming from an incident on February 15, 2020, involving a 23-year-old woman whom he met via Tinder. According to a statement from Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg Jr., after their first meeting at the Soho House and subsequent sexual encounter at Hathaway’s West Village apartment, the woman revoked consent, which Hathaway ignored. He is scheduled for sentencing on June 10.
The night in question began with an arranged meeting at the exclusive Soho House, but as the situation developed into a sexual encounter, the dynamic dramatically changed. As proven during the trial, despite clearly repeated refusals and physical resistance from the woman, Hathaway continued to rape her. This conviction served as an affirmation that no individual can presume continued consent when it has been unmistakably withdrawn.
"This conviction makes clear that initial consent is not a blank check for rape," Bragg stated. "This survivor clearly said stop again and again, but the defendant did not." He praised the victim for her courage to testify in spite of being branded a liar swamped with regret. Bragg underscored the commitment of his office to support survivors of sexual assaults, imploring anyone who has experienced such trauma to reach out for assistance.
The successful prosecution was managed by Assistant D.A.s Ashley Durkin and Brianna DeMilia, working under the supervision of Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Deputy Bureau Chief Kaitlyn Flatley, and Executive Assistant D.A. Justin McNabney, who leads the Special Victims Division. The office thanked its sex crimes counselor from the Survivor Services Bureau and acknowledged the assistance of Trial Preparation Assistants Allison Loving and Juliana Bosrock in helping secure the conviction.
