SALT LAKE CITY, Utah — A University of Utah student-athlete has been charged with several felony counts in connection with an alleged sexual assault that took place in November 2024.
Berk Bugarikj, 21, a tennis player and scholarship student from Skopje, Macedonia, was formally charged Tuesday in Salt Lake County with three counts of first-degree felony rape, two counts of first-degree forcible sodomy, and one count of first-degree object rape, according to court documents.
The charges stem from an incident reported by a woman who told police she was assaulted by Bugarikj on or about November 16, 2024. According to a probable cause statement filed by Salt Lake City Police, the woman said she had gone to a bar with Bugarikj and a group of friends. After the bar closed, the group went to Bugarikj’s residence.
The woman stated that she and Bugarikj entered his bedroom and began kissing. The encounter quickly turned violent, she told detectives, as Bugarikj allegedly raped her multiple times over the course of the night. She described the experience as “really painful” and said she was gagged, had her hair pulled, and was left in tears.
According to court documents, the woman attempted to leave the house but was allegedly pushed against a wall by Bugarikj and raped again. She said she later locked herself in a bathroom and called a ride-share service. However, when she exited the bathroom, Bugarikj was reportedly waiting outside and raped her a third time.
As of Wednesday, Bugarikj had not entered a plea. The University of Utah has not publicly commented on the charges or confirmed whether any disciplinary action has been taken.
The case remains under investigation, and prosecutors have not yet indicated whether additional charges could be filed. If convicted, Bugarikj could face decades in prison under Utah’s sentencing guidelines for first-degree felonies.
Salt Lake City Police are urging anyone with additional information to come forward.