Courtesy of the Cache County Jail
LOGAN — The rape case for a former Utah State football player is going to trial next month. The three-day jury trial for Jamaal A. Evans will be start March 4, more than a year-and-a-half after he was originally arrested.
A final pre-trial conference was held for Evan’s case Tuesday morning. Evans, who was not present for the hearing, has been charged with rape and forcible sodomy, both first-degree felonies.
Public defender Shannon Demler told the court they had not worked out a resolution and were ready to proceed to trial. He explained that they were locating their final witness, who is believed to be attending school in Texas.
Evans was arrested after a female student reported being raped to school officials. On June 17, 2018, she and one of her friends picked up the defendant. They went to a small party at a residence in Logan. She stated that she knew who he was, but had never really hung out with him.
The woman told investigators while at the party they consumed some alcohol. Afterwards, Evans raped her.
In August 2018, Judge Cannell ruled during a preliminary hearing that even though the victim was not able to recall the night of the assault, she could not have been able to consent to sex. He bound the defendant over on both charges.
The case was delayed last year partly because of the month long jury trial in January for Torrey Green, another former USU football player convicted of sexually assaulting six women.
Evans was signed by USU in 2016. He was suspended after his arrest and never played for the team again. He is originally from Las Vegas where he was a first team, all-state quarterback.
Evans is currently out of jail after posting $25,000 bail. He could face up to life in prison if convicted.
will@cvradio.com