LOGAN — A 21-year-old Logan man is being bound over for trial on new charges of raping a woman in 2019. Devoney I. Stanley has been waiting for more than two years since being arrested.
Stanley participated in a virtual preliminary hearing in 1st District Court Wednesday afternoon, appearing by web conference. He was originally charged with one count of object rape, a first-degree felony.
Last year, before Stanley was scheduled to go to trial, prosecutors filed two additional charges of object rape and forcible sodomy, both first-degree felonies. The charges stem from the original incident.
According to a police report, the crime allegedly occurred on campus at Utah State in May 2019. The alleged victim and defendant were acquaintances.
As part of their evidence, prosecutors presented the court with a witness statement from the alleged victim. It described how on the night of the crime, the woman woke up to find Stanley raping her.
Defense attorney James Wright did not present any evidence. He said that Stanley also was invoking his right not to testify during the hearing.
Judge Brian Cannell ruled that prosecutors had presented sufficient evidence to bind Stanley over for trial on all three charges. He ordered the defendant to appear again in court March 16 to be arraigned on the new offences.
Stanley is currently out of jail after posting $10,000 bail. As part of his pretrial release, he is prohibited from consuming any illegal drugs or alcohol, and stay away from the alleged victim’s residence and place of employment. He could face up to life in prison if convicted.
Individuals arrested and charged in complaints are presumed innocent unless or until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.
will@cvradio.com