Lawrence man to face trial for alleged rape of unconscious woman

photo by: Douglas County Sheriff's Office

Gregory E. Esquivel

A judge on Monday bound a man over for trial for allegedly raping an acquaintance while she slept in September 2018.

Gregory E. Esquivel, now 23, also pleaded not guilty Monday to one felony charge of rape, according to information from Cheryl Wright Kunard, assistant to the district attorney.

The Journal-World has reported that the alleged victim, a 22-year-old woman, told police in September 2018 that she and some friends had gone out to drink and get some food. A few of them went back to the woman’s apartment afterward.

She’d had enough to drink that she got sick, then went to sleep with her boyfriend in their room, closing and locking the door behind her.

The woman told police that around 5 a.m., she awoke to see the bedroom door open, according to the police affidavit supporting Esquivel’s arrest. She initially thought her boyfriend was asleep with his arm over her but turned and realized it was Esquivel sexually assaulting her, she told police. He appeared to have fallen asleep during the act, the affidavit alleges.

Esquivel reportedly told police that when he saw the boyfriend asleep on the couch and the woman asleep on the bed, he got into bed with her. He told police he “might” have touched the woman over her clothing but denied raping her, according to the affidavit.

According to the affidavit, the KBI’s testing of her sex assault kit to determine whether Esquivel’s DNA was present was inconclusive.

Allegations in affidavits have not been proved in court.

Esquivel’s next court appearance is Dec. 20, and the case is set for trial Jan. 15, according to information from Wright Kunard.

Related coverage

June 10, 2019: Lawrence man sexually assaulted sleeping woman after night out, affidavit alleges

May 15, 2019: Lawrence man charged with rape in fall 2018 incident


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