Rossi, 38, is scheduled for another trial in September in Utah County where he is accused of raping a 21-year-old woman in Orem. In both cases he is charged with rape, a first-degree felony, based on alleged actions in 2008. [...]
In Salt Lake County, a woman reported interactions with Rossi in 2022 to police after seeing news of his extradition process, and charges were later filed. She and Rossi dated for about two weeks and discussed marriage, but following an argument about breaking up in December of 2008 he held her down and raped her, according to charging documents. [...]
Third District Judge Barry Lawrence, who oversees the Salt Lake County case, ruled that the DNA collected for the Utah County case could be used in the current trial to place Rossi in Utah in 2008. He also ruled that the woman who is the alleged victim in Utah County can testify in the Salt Lake County case.
He ruled that evidence about DNA collection in Ohio, which investigators have testified helped them identify Rossi, cannot be used. Evidence about Rossi's location and actions since 2017 will also be kept out of the trial, as the judge determined it would have low probative value and would cause prejudice against Rossi. This includes evidence of Rossi faking his own death, assuming an overseas alias, and fighting extradition over the course of multiple years. [...]
In the Utah County case, Rossi is scheduled for a hearing on Aug. 19, shortly after the trial ends, to discuss yet another motion about evidence for the September trial.
In that case, a woman went to the hospital reporting she had been sexually assaulted by her ex-boyfriend. According to charging documents, she reported to police she had ended a relationship with Rossi because he was getting more aggressive and owed her money. Later, he invited her over, saying he would pay her the money he owed, and he forced sexual contact on her despite her saying no at least 10 times, according to prosecutors.
Charging documents say police reports in four different states show a consistent pattern of behavior from Rossi, including meeting a woman online, making manipulating comments, and forcing a nonconsensual sexual encounter or threatening suicide. [...]
A 3rd District Court judge decided to allow evidence from the alleged victim in Nicholas Rossi's Utah County case at his jury trial in Salt Lake County next week.
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