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Former USU student, frat member bound over for rape trial


Women testify against Utah State student accused of rapes

(KUTV) A judge has ordered Jason Brian Relopez to trial for charges he raped two young women in Logan.

Relopez, reportedly kicked out of the Sigma Chi fraternity, and suspended from Utah State University, listened in court on Thursday as the women testified at his preliminary hearing.

"We did homework together," said one woman on the stand. "I had come to think of him as a friend. I trusted him."

Last fall, she said Relopez came to her home, they kissed, she moved close to him, and he asked if she wanted to 'go all the way.' She said she told him no, but that he physically forced her to have intercourse.

"I asked him to stop, three times or so. I said 'I don't want to do this. Please stop, let's not' -- and it was like I wasn't even there. I was completely ignored."

She also said she did not have any alcohol that night.

"We're welcoming the trial, and I think he'll be found not guilty," said Relopez' attorney Shannon Demler, who insisted sex with the women was consensual. He said a woman alleging rape at the frat house was drunk.

"They don't go to the police," said Demler. "They don't ask for help. They don't say something to people who are knocking at the door."

"The evidence clearly shows this was non-consensual," said prosecutor Barbara Lachmar.

She said the women testified in the face of trauma and embarrassment.

"I think they're holding up as well as they can," said Lachmar. "And I'm very pleased that they had the courage to come forward and do this process. It's not easy."

Lachmar said she is not anticipating additional charges against Relopez, but "if any further victims showed up, we would certainly make a decision on whether there was enough evidence to charge."

Relopez is accused of rape and aggravated sexual assault. He's been held without bail since his arrest in July. A bail hearing has been set for Aug. 25.

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