Former Cal student Richard You charged with sex crime, DV case
In 2023, You ran for student government "on platforms of campus safety" and community, the student newspaper reported at the time.
A former UC Berkeley student has been charged with a long list of felonies, from domestic violence to stalking and a sex crime, in connection with two young women he was reportedly dating at the same time.
According to charging papers, 20-year-old Richard You "terrorized" one woman while they dated last year, "beating her and sexually assaulting her multiple times," Berkeley police wrote.
Police say You also "tormented" a second woman after he began a concurrent dating relationship with her "at some point" during the other relationship.
In January, the second woman ended up at Highland Hospital after You violently attacked her during an argument in which he told her he had taken compromising photographs of her while she slept, police wrote in charging papers.
Richard You. BPD
On Feb. 7, the Alameda County DA's office charged You with eight felony allegations, spanning from September 2024 to the end of January, in relation to the women, who were identified as Jane Doe 1 and Jane Doe 2 in court papers due to the nature of the charges.
A week later, on Valentine's Day, police say You confronted one of the women and demanded that she drop the charges against him.
According to police, You pledged to kill the woman as soon as he was "found not guilty" and also made threats against her family while identifying where they live.
The woman told police that You "often lies and bluffs," but said she "did not want to take the chance with her family," BPD wrote.
Later that day, You was arraigned in court in connection with a felony sex crime from the case, and put on a no-bail hold that kept him in custody, according to charging papers.
Police said "YOU denied abusing either victim, and refused to apologize to either of them."
As part of the case, officials prohibited You from contacting either woman and informed him of the restriction in open court, BPD wrote.
Despite the no-contact order, police say You "called the victims at least 171 times" and "would occasionally use the accounts of other inmates to contact the victims."
Police noted that You's sisters also "called the victims at least 10 times" to ask them to "answer his calls."
The DA's office subsequently charged You with stalking and attempted witness dissuasion along with disobeying a court order, according to court papers.
According to UC Berkeley records, You was admitted to Cal in Fall 2022 and attended UC Berkeley through Fall 2024 with an undeclared major.
According to his LinkedIn page, You was pursuing economics, serving as the corporate relations external chair for the Berkeley Undergraduate Economics Association and a finance associate in the School of Public Health.
He was also an active member of the Korean American Student Association (KASA) at UC Berkeley and was identified as the group's 2023-24 staff historian in an Instagram post.
In April 2023, You ran for ASUC Senate, the legislative branch of Cal student government, "on platforms of campus safety" and community, the Daily Californian reported at the time.
"He identified the frequency of crimes on and around campus as a significant problem, and seeks a future in which all students feel comfortable walking around campus on their own," the Daily Cal reported.
"What I want to do is create (a) much more safer and much more convenient community at Berkeley by creating new programs and by trying to develop new ideas as time goes by in order to really show to the other people in the world that Berkeley is going to be a much more safer community and that it’s not just a dangerous school," You said, according to the Daily Cal.
As of this week, You remains in custody without bail and is set to enter pleas in connection with both cases Tuesday, according to booking and court records.
Campus support resources
- Confidential Care Advocate, PATH to Care Center: 510-643-2005 (24/7)
- University Health Services nurse advice line: 510-643-7197 (24/7)
- Gender Equity Resource Center: 510-643-5727
- Office for the Prevention of Harassment and Discrimination (Title IX)
Other 24/7 resources
- Alameda County domestic violence support services
- Bay Area Women Against Rape: 510-800-4247
- Highland Hospital: 510-437-4800
For more information on sexual violence prevention and resources, UCPD directed members of the campus community to its survivor support website.
