Rape Trial Begins in Belmont County
Robert A. DeFrank Trending
A jury will hear the evidence and decide if a reported sexual encounter during a post-graduation party in 2022 was consensual or if a rape was committed.
On Tuesday, the jurors heard opening arguments in the trial of Logan Cochran, accused of two counts of first-degree felony rape and one count of fourth-degree felony gross sexual imposition that allegedly occurred May 24, 2022.
In his opening argument, Belmont County Assistant Prosecutor Chris Gagin described the alleged events, which Gagin said began May 23 at a post-graduation gathering of three young men and three young women including Cochran.
Cochran, who is 21 now and a resident of 69740 Ohio St., Martins Ferry, was 19 at the time. The other men were also older than 18. Two of the females, including the alleged victim, were over 18, and one was 17. The gathering occurred at a house in Martins Ferry belonging to one of the other men.
Gagin described the events that reportedly occurred that night, saying there was drinking of alcohol and some use of marijuana. According to Gagin, one of the men left, one man and woman went upstairs for the night, and the juvenile female remained asleep downstairs.
Gagin told the court it is alleged that Cochran began making unwanted advances on the other woman, who also was sleeping downstairs inside the home, eventually following her to an upstairs bedroom, pulling her down on the bed and assaulting her.
He said she went to a local hospital and reported what allegedly had occurred after speaking to a friend and to her mother. He also said when police questioned Cochran, he stated he had not been drinking alcohol.
Cochran's defense attorney, Michael Probst, said while many of the facts to be presented by the prosecution and defense will align, the defense disputes what allegedly occurred.
Probst told the jury the woman agreed to go with Cochran to the spare bedroom and went upstairs with him.
Probst also said there were inconsistencies in the alleged victim's statements during her medical examination. He said no signs of injury were found. He also said the police did not tell Cochran why they were questioning him following her report, and Cochran did not want to admit to underage drinking.
Gagin said he expected the trial to take three days, possibly concluding on Thursday.