A fall party at a Columbia student housing complex has now put a 20-year-old St. Charles man in the Boone County Jail. Investigators say they traced alleged sexual assaults at an off-campus gathering last November to Hayk Darbinyan, who was booked Tuesday night. Prosecutors have charged him with first-degree sodomy, first-degree sexual abuse and misdemeanor third-degree kidnapping tied to allegations that two women were assaulted at a Grayson Cottages party the night of Nov. 1 into the early hours of Nov. 2, 2025. Darbinyan is being held without bond, with a hearing scheduled for Wednesday afternoon.
According to ABC17 News, two probable-cause statements filed in the case describe the crowded party and allege Darbinyan was "aggressive" while attempting to sodomize both women. One filing states he successfully sodomized one victim, and another detail in the documents describes a photo from the gathering that allegedly shows Darbinyan with his hand between a woman's legs. Multiple witnesses reportedly spoke with police as investigators built the case.
Where police say it happened
The complex where the incident is alleged to have occurred, Grayson Cottages, markets itself as off-campus student housing and lists its office at 2400 E Nifong Blvd. The property's website highlights amenities and student-focused leases, which underscores how tightly this case is tied to Columbia's student housing scene.
Arrest and courtroom timeline
ABC17 News reports that Darbinyan was booked into the Boone County Jail and is being held without bond, with a hearing set for Wednesday afternoon. Prosecutors filed the felony charges after the two probable-cause statements outlined the Nov. 1 to Nov. 2, 2025 party and detailed the alleged conduct. The Boone County Sheriff's Office lists its jail address and custody operations online for those tracking local detention and court movement.
Legal implications
Missouri statutes and legal summaries describe first-degree sodomy and first-degree sexual abuse as felonies that can carry lengthy prison sentences, depending on the facts of a case. Convictions can also bring collateral consequences such as sex-offender registration and potential sentence enhancements in aggravated situations, according to state law summaries on FindLaw. Darbinyan is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty and will answer the charges in circuit court.
Resources for survivors
Anyone affected by sexual assault in Columbia can reach local advocacy and support services, including Boone County Prosecutor's Office Victim Services and True North, through resources listed by the University of Missouri Police Department. That page links to the Boone County Victim Response Team, the university counseling center and the SANE clinic for forensic exams. For immediate help, contact 9-1-1 or use the hotlines provided on those resource pages.
