Man convicted of University of Idaho rape resentenced after successful appeal

MOSCOW, Idaho – A man convicted of raping a woman outside a University of Idaho fraternity house has had his conviction and sentence vacated and he has been resentenced to probation.

The Moscow-Pullman Daily News reported that Jesse Vierstra on Monday entered an Alford plea to the charge of assault with intent to commit a serious felony as part of a settlement his attorneys reached with the prosecution. He was resentenced to 10 years of probation.

Vierstra had appealed his conviction, arguing that his attorneys failed weren’t prepared for his March 2013 trial.

Court records state that Vierstra, a former UI student, had attended a fraternity party at the university in October 2012. The victim testified during the trial that Vierstra had held her down and raped her outside the building.