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Show PAGES UNIVERSITY JOURNAL CAMPUS NEWS !MONDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1000 Ex-student heads to trial Ropers faces 15 years BY THOMAS BURR SENIOR STAFF VVRITER A former SUU student was bound over for trial on Wednesday in 5th District Court in Cedar City on a charge of aggravatea sexual assault of another former SUU student. Douglas W. Chappell, 47 , who was enrolled at SUU last semester, has been charged with the first-degree felony for allegedly assaulting a 23-year-old female who also attended SUU last semester. The two apparently met whi le taki ng criminal justice classes at the university. Neither of the two are currently students at SUU. During a preliminary trial on Wednesday, Chappell's attorney, Willard Bishop , called the woman a "professional victim ," saying she has previously daimed rape by several men and is predisposed to have "hostility · against all members of the male gender." "She has a habit of making these false accusations," Bishop said. Iron County Deputy Attorney David Doxey said Bishop's comments were "complete speculation." Later, the alleged victim took the stand to talk about the night of Oct. 18, 2000, when the assault allegedly took place. On that night she said she was with Chappell in her off-campus apartment drinking alcohol and watching a movie. During that time, she said she "feil asleep or passed out" She said she later woke up to find her pants missing and blood coming from her body. She called emergency services , was taken to Valley View Medical Center and was later released. · The alleged victim while arr the stand never looked at Chappell , who sat taking notes during the hearing. On cross-examination, the alleged victim said she had not given consent to have sexual intercourse. She said later that she sometimes had problems being assertive. "I have had a hard time with standing up for myself and saying no." she said. The woman also stated she had a miscarriage in December 2000 but had not asked for a· DNA test to be completed on the undeveloped fetus. Cedar City_Police Det. Kelvin Minefee testified that during an interview with Chappell about the alleged incident "his mannerisms changed dramatically" after finding out what he was being questioned for. Chappell appeared · extremely upset,· Minefee said, and was shaking back and forth . The detective also said he had neglected to place a condom into evidence that was found in the residence where the assault allegedly took place. The condom is probably destroyed now, Minefee said. Officials are still awaiting results from tests to see if a date rape drug was used in the purported assault. Chappell was originally charged with rape , but the charge was subsequently changed by prosecutors who said it would have been too difficult to prove sexual intercourse took place. The new charge involves proving only that a sexual assault occurred. Chappell is scheduled to be arraigned on March 20. If convicted . Chappell could face up to life in prison. He remains free on bail of $20,000. ~u(UJ [Q) ~·~,r Kenneth Laundra, an assistant professor of sociology, and John E. •Jeb" Branin, an academic adviser at Richard Ropers' ex-wife , Kim SUU , however, testified that Ropers was Valentine, testified that he.had been a reputable person and was not violent. violent with her during their nine-month During closing arguments, Bums said marriage and he had "pulled phones out it was Ropers· intent to injure his wife of the wall" in order to keep her from and that the other w itnesses in the case calling the police. had nothing to gain from creating the Valentine, who now lives in situation . "They can't all be lying," he Washington County, said after said . the verdict that she was Ropers' attorn ey, · relieved" that Ropers will now Willard Bishop, told be punished for the violence. jurors there was a lot of ·cedar [City] and the rest·of confusion during the the world are now safer," she incident and Shan Ropers' said. "Thank God for this statements were jury." misunderstood . DeNean Petersen, who "Whatever happened was coordinates the Iron County an accident." he sa,ci victim programs, testified He also said some of the that Shan Ropers' witnesses had a testimony did not resemble "preconceived mind-set that what she had said at the they were going to find a Richard Rop hospital the night of the victim of domestic violence· assault. Petersen also stated ers that night. that it is common for victims of domestic Ropers, who took the stand on his abuse to recant after the incident. own behalf, said he was only having a Several of Ropers' SUU colleagues discussion with his wife that night and also took the stand to testify about his was not arguing. character. "I did not use any form of violence ," Rodney Decker, dean of the College he said under cross-exam ination. "I've of Humanities and Social Sciences, told the jury that Ropers is not always honest never been arrested or convicted of domestic violence in my life.· and is "quite volatile." Also , Wayne Ropers , who remains at liberty on bail Hinton , chair of the sociology of $10,000, will be sentenced on April 2 department. said that Ropers had once in Parowan and could face up to 15 raised his fist at him and called him a years in prison. · son of a bitch." (continued from page 1) I Give her the world. ~f~~~ [HJ ~© [ij] f ~1f ~u~ © ~ @~[Q)(UJffi\u~©[M Graduating seniors who have at least a 3.6 cumulative GPA are invited to submit an original five to eight minute speech to be given by the graduate at this year's graduation ceremony, Saturday, May 5, 2001 . The graduation address will be selected by a student & faculty panel from the applications I• received. Finalists wi·II be invited to present their address to the panel. A $300 cash award will be given to the recipient of the student graduation speech honor. Proposed student graduation addresses, along with a brief r~sume, should be submitted to the Vice President for Student Services Office no later than Friday, March 9'h. Finalists will be notifies by March 30th. Start with, "The Ring~' from Castro & Co. Castro & Co. Jeweler 00 Gemologist Cst. t9S4 ~ - 68' NorthMain Cedar City • 586-2422 · |