Magic Valley Man Guilty of Raping UI Student

MOSCOW, Idaho (AP) — A northern Idaho jury has convicted a 20-year-old Magic Valleyo man of raping an 18-year-old University of Idaho freshman. The Lewiston Tribune reports the Latah County jury on Friday found Jesse M. Vierstra of Twin Falls guilty of felony rape after deliberating four hours.

Second District Court Judge Carl B. Kerrick ordered the former UI student immediately taken into custody. Prosecutors say Vierstra was attending a party at the Sigma Chi fraternity house in October when he and the woman walked outside.

The woman told police they began kissing, and when she tried to end the encounter, he picked her up and carried her to some dark bushes, where she said he raped her. Vierstra says the sex was consensual. A sentencing date hasn't been set.