Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
Judge rules in bench trial, no jury used
Washington State University quarterback Jayden de Laura was found not guilty of DUI in Whitman County District Court on July 29.
PULLMAN — Washington State University Cougars' quarterback Jayden de Laura was found not guilty of DUI by a judge in Whitman County District Court on July 29.
There was no jury, it was a bench trial determined by Judge Pro Tem Douglas Robinson.
"They brought up a lack of evidence ... they showed video from the officer's body camera that he wasn't staggering or slurring his speech," said Whitman County Senior Deputy Prosecutor Tessa Scholl. "I think his attorneys did a great job in convincing the judge."
The WSU athlete was stopped by Pullman police in February for driving the wrong way on Thatuna Street and through a stop sign. De Laura failed a field sobriety test and refused to take a Breathalyzer test.
"I believe the state had absolute evidence to pursue the charge," said Scholl. "It was a righteous case and worth pursuing regardless of who he is."
Defense attorneys claimed de Laura failed the sobriety test partially due to him being cold while wearing shorts and a T-shirt at night in February with 22 mph winds.
"He did perform some field sobriety tests, which he didn't perform well, in my opinion," said Scholl.
Scholl viewed the video evidence and police report before pursuing the DUI charge. She believed she could get a conviction.
The DUI case was determined in a bench trial. A bench trial means the prosecutor and defense attorneys argue the case and the judge alone determines if a defendant is guilty.
"If the judge didn't believe he was not guilty, he would have found him guilty," said Scholl.
Robinson spoke of his reasons for finding de Laura not guilty, saying he found there to be a lack of evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt de Laura was driving legally impaired by alcohol.
The judge did not write a finding of not guilty, a document listing his reasons, for Whitman County District Court.
De Laura posted a long letter on Twitter afterward.
"While I do feel mildly vindicated by today's verdict, I recognize that I made some poor choices on the night in question. I, and I alone, am responsible for those choices," de Laura wrote.
"I will never take that for granted and I will work each and every day moving forward to earn back the trust from the entire Cougar Nation so I can flourish here at Washington State University both academically and athletically," he wrote.
De Laura started for all four games of the WSU Cougars' abbreviated football season in 2020. He was suspended and missed the spring training camp. With the criminal matter concluded, de Laura is reinstated and set to join his team on Aug. 6 for preseason workouts.
The Cougars have one month before the season opener against Utah.
Bill Stevenson is the former editor of the Whitman County Gazette, Colfax Daily Bulletin and Franklin Connection. He has nearly 30 years of journalism experience covering news in Eastern Washington.
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