Prosecutor drops charge against University of Iowa FIJI frat member

IOWA CITY — A prosecutor on Friday dismissed a criminal charge against one of the University of Iowa fraternity members who a woman sued over an alleged 2020 sexual assault.

A first-degree harassment charge was dropped against Carson Steffen, 23, a member of UI Phi Gamma Delta fraternity.

The action came two days after Makena Solberg announced she had settled her lawsuit against Steffen and other fraternity members, the UI chapter of Phi Gamma Delta — FIJI — and its national affiliates.

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Johnson County Attorney Rachel Zimmermann Smith said the dismissal was based on the written request from the victim — Solberg — through her civil attorney.

“Given the potential impact of information regarding the resolution” of the lawsuit on the criminal trial, the prosecution is dismissing the case, Zimmerman Smith said.

There is no further information in court files about the dismissal.

The harassment charge stemmed from the accusations Solberg alleged in the lawsuit. Steffen was accused of sharing a photo to multiple people on Snapchat of a woman engaged in a sex act without her permission.

Lawsuit settled

Solberg’s attorneys at Ball, Kirk and Holm, in a statement on Wednesday said Solberg has resolved her lawsuit filed against all defendants — her two alleged attackers, Carson Steffen and Jacob Meloan, the UI chapter of Phi Gamma Delta, and national Fiji organization Phi Gamma Delta Educational Foundation, Mu Deuteron Alumni Association of Phi Gamma Delta and Mu Deuteron Chapter House Corp.

The law firm said it couldn’t discuss specifics of each settlement.

“However, the 23-year-old Tippie College of Business Finance graduate says she is glad that she chose to stand up for herself in the justice system,” according to the statement.

“It wasn’t easy, but I had a strong support system of people who stood by me; and it was important that I kept pushing even when it was difficult,” Solberg said in a statement. “What was done to me shouldn’t happen to anyone. Ever. Every student should be able go out, socialize at college, and feel safe.”

Notice of settlement with Steffen was filed Thursday with the court, according to a court document.

In addition, Solberg reached a resolution through mediation with the UI chapter of Phi Gamma Delta — which calls itself FIJI — and national Phi Gamma Delta Educational Foundation, according to the law firm’s news release. She also reached a resolution through mediation with Mu Deuteron Alumni Association of Phi Gamma Delta and Mu Deuteron Chapter House Corp. in August.

The law firm said she also agreed to a settlement with Meloan in September.

Allegations

According to her lawsuit, Solberg said she was drugged, isolated in a room and assaulted Sept. 5, 2020, by Steffen and Meloan, who recorded it and disseminated photos and video among FIJI brothers in an online chat.

Although Solberg reported the incident to Iowa City police, authorities initially didn’t seek charges. She went public about the incident on social media in fall 2021.

It was that publicity — and, with it, online petitions and Facebook posts — that incited a large and violent protest in September 2021, damaging the FIJI house and forcing its residents to relocate.

Fifteen months after the alleged sexual assault — and weeks after the protests — Iowa City police arrested Steffen on a charge of first-degree harassment. He trial was set for December.

Meloan wasn’t charged.

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