Prosecutors Rest Case Against College Student Accused of Rape on Campus
Prosecutors in Douglas County recently rested their case in the trial against a 20-year-old defendant accused of raping a 19-year-old freshman female classmate at Haskell Indian Nations University. The rape allegedly took place in November 2014 in the defendant’s dorm room with the aid of another former college student whose trial is expected to go on in late July.
The indictment against the defendant includes charges of aggravated rape and one count of aggravated criminal sodomy, all of which are felonies. Both students were arrested the day the incident is said to have taken place and were released on a $75,000 bond. Both of the suspects were expelled from their college soon after.
Much of the evidence presented by the prosecution centered around DNA evidence collected as part of the criminal investigation. Experts for the prosecution testified that test swabs taken from the suspect’s genitals matched DNA found on the victim.
Furthermore, investigators collected DNA from a condom and the defendant’s bed sheets, which the experts asserted tested positive for DNA from both the suspect and the victim. The evidence was submitted to the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) and also examined by independent experts called by the defense.
After an unsuccessful motion to dismiss the case based on a lack of evidence, the defense called their own analysts who scrutinized the prosecution’s case. Although the collection methods and testing were legitimate, the amount of certain DNA collected was underwhelming, according to witnesses for the defense.
Defense witnesses testified that only a handful of the victim’s skin cells were found on the defendant, juxtaposing the eight cells found to the 400,000 cells humans typical shed in a day. Attorneys for the defendant then turned their attention to police and nurses involved in the case, questioning what they perceived as a lack of in-depth investigating on their part.
Olathe Sexual Assault Attorneys
As a former District Attorney and Kansas Attorney General, Paul Morrison understands the complexities of rape and sexual assault cases. Using this unique perspective, the Olathe sexual assault attorneys of the Morrison Law Firm, LLC can assist defendants in crafting the right legal strategy to help give them a chance of clearing their good name and ensuring justice is served.
If you or someone you know faces sexual assault charges in Kansas, contact our firm or call (913) 780-6666 for a consultation about your case. The Morrison Law Firm, LLC represents clients throughout Olathe and Overland, Kansas.
