Jury rules not guilty

A superior court jury June 14 found Tyler E. Hanson, 21, Pasco, not guilty of the burglary charge which was filed against him after Pullman Police investigated an alleged rape report early Oct. 31, 2015, on Spaulding Street in Pullman. The jury deliberated for approximately one hour June 14 after testimony and arguments concluded in the trial which began June 12 with selection of the jury.

The alleged victim in the case said she was in bed at her boyfriend's apartment and waiting for him to return when a male entered the room and had intercourse with her. She said she didn't realize the male in the bed was not her boyfriend until her boyfriend arrived home and turned on the light. Hanson reportedly fled the room and left his clothes behind.

Hanson was charged with burglary for allegedly entering the residence and assaulting the alleged victim. The alleged victim, her boyfriend, other witnesses and Pullman Police testified at the trial.

The trial began June 12 after the court rejected a motion by Hanson's attorney, J. Brendan Kidd of Spokane, to dismiss the charge. Kidd argued the state failed to show any assault was involved on the part of the defendant. Police initially arrested Hanson on a probable charge of second degree rape, but that was dropped because forcible compulsion was not involved in the sexual intercourse.

Kidd argued that Hanson fled the scene after the boyfriend arrived home and turned on the lights. He contended the alleged victim and her boyfriend hit Hanson, but he responded by leaving.

Kidd in his motion noted Washington state, unlike California, does not have rape by deception or rape by fraud on its books.

The court log shows the jury received the case for deliberation at 10:58 a.m. June 12 and returned with a verdict at 12:01 p.m.