STAUNTON — In 2020, David R. Christian Jr. contacted Little one Protecting Companies, reporting {that a} Staunton man had met a teenage lady on-line and was having a sexual relationship together with her.
The allegation led to a Staunton Police Division investigation of Jacob L. Oyer, 28, who was ultimately convicted on two prices of use of a communications system to solicit intercourse from a minor and two prices of contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
In Might 2022, Oyer, who pleaded responsible to the 4 felony prices in Staunton Circuit Court docket, was sentenced to a five-year jail time period and registered as a intercourse offender by Virginia State Police.
Nevertheless, when initially interviewed by authorities, the lady, apart from implicating Oyer, additionally claimed that Christian had raped her when she was below the age of 13, in line with courtroom information. The allegations resulted in Staunton police arresting Christian a couple of 12 months later in October 2021 and charging him with three counts of raping a minor.
Dealing with the opportunity of three phrases of life in jail if convicted on the rape prices, Christian was slated for a three-day jury trial this week in Staunton that was supposed to start Monday. However the trial glided by the wayside after the Staunton Commonwealth’s Legal professional’s Workplace nolle prossed the rape prices March 8.
Staunton Deputy Commonwealth’s Legal professional Joseph Perry was dealing with the prosecution of Christian. When requested why he determined to not prosecute the Staunton man, Perry mentioned, “After cautious overview of the accessible proof, we made the troublesome choice that, at this level, the suitable motion was to maneuver the courtroom to enter an order nolle prosequi.”
In a courtroom submitting, protection lawyer Dana Cormier argued that the lady had a motive to manufacture allegations in opposition to Christian as a result of he was the one who initiated the investigation of Oyer, which resulted in his incarceration and the top of the connection between him and the lady.
Reached by cellphone Wednesday, Cormier mentioned Perry needed to make a troublesome choice in deciding whether or not or to not pursue the rape prices in opposition to Christian.
“In my view, he made the correct name,” Cormier mentioned. “I am glad Mr. Christian can get on along with his life.”
As a result of the costs weren’t dismissed outright they might be introduced again, however it’s a uncommon incidence to see the reinstatement of prices that have been nolle prossed.
Christian, 38, was held at Center River Regional Jail for 5 days following his 2021 arrest earlier than a decide granted him bond.
Brad Zinn is the cops, courts and breaking information reporter at The Information Chief. Have a information tip? Or one thing that wants investigating? You’ll be able to e mail reporter Brad Zinn (he/him) at bzinn@newsleader.com. You can too observe him on Twitter.
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