High-profile rape case goes to trial next week

By JARED STRONG
j.strong@carrollspaper.com

The 17-year-old Jefferson boy accused of raping a former classmate after an underage drinking party is expected to make his case for innocence on Tuesday for a judge who will decide whether he committed the crime.

Trey Tucker allegedly ignored a young woman’s denial of sex in August after the two had other intimate contact that was consensual.

He was initially charged with felony sex abuse in adult district court — even though he was 16 at the time of the alleged crime — but District Judge William Ostlund moved the case to juvenile court in December at Tucker’s request.

Tucker’s attorney and Greene County Attorney Nicola Martino attempted to negotiate a plea deal — in which Tucker would admit his guilt of a lesser crime — but there has apparently been no agreement.

Martino declined to talk about the plea negotiations.

He asked Ostlund early this month to set an adjudicatory hearing for Tucker’s case — the juvenile court equivalent of a trial in adult court.

The hearing is closed to the public.

Tucker’s high-profile attorney requested the court hearing be closed, in part, because “the publicity this situation has garnered is highly unusual.”

The case has forced the Greene County school district to modify its policies that pertain to students accused or convicted of serious crimes.

Tucker is the high school basketball team’s leading scorer, and his senior season is in jeopardy if Ostlund finds him delinquent of a crime.