The trial for Christopher Stonebraker, a Winamac man accused of raping and battering his ex-wife, came to a close Friday in the Starke Circuit Court when the jury returned with a verdict of not guilty on both counts. Deliberation lasted roughly three hours and the verdict was returned at 7 p.m. The defense started their case Friday and called two witnesses to the stand before final arguments were heard.
The trial for Christopher Stonebraker, a Winamac man accused of raping and battering his ex-wife, came to a close Friday in the Starke Circuit Court when the jury returned with a verdict of not guilty on both counts. Deliberation lasted roughly three hours and the verdict was returned at 7 p.m. The defense started their case Friday and called two witnesses to the stand before final arguments were heard.
On Thursday, the state called nine witnesses to the stand, including two detectives, two forensic investigators from the Indiana State Police, the nurse who performed the rape exam on the victim, Pulaski County Sheriff Michael Gayer, North Judson Town Marshal Doug Vessely, and Starke County dispatcher Dawn Bau, as well as the victim and a close friend.
The trial began on Wednesday in the Starke Circuit Court after a six-hour jury selection process. Stonebraker faces charges of Rape as a Class B felony and D-felony charges of Domestic Battery following his arrest in November, when police allege he raped his ex-wife and pushed her head into a wall, causing her tooth to chip. The probable cause affidavit stated that he also scratched her back in the presence of two children.
Stonebraker was found not guilty of both charges.
After a lengthy jury selection process, the trial for a Winamac man accused of raping his ex-wife began in the Starke Circuit Court yesterday. Christopher Stonebraker faces charges of Rape as a Class B felony and Domestic Battery as a Class D felony following his arrest in November.
The jury selection process ran from 9 a.m. to around 3 p.m., when the jury was finally seated. The assembled jury then heard their instructions for the case and opening statements were heard from both the defense and the state before the day came to a close.
Since being continued in late July, the jury trial in the case of Christopher Stonebraker has been set for this morning at 9 a.m. Stonebraker is charged with Rape as a Class B felony and Domestic Battery as a Class D felony following his arrest late last year.
Stonebraker was arrested on Nov. 28, 2011, and it is alleged that he raped his ex-wife and pushed her head into a wall, causing her tooth to chip. The probable cause affidavit stated that he also scratched her back in the presence of two children. Stonebraker was arrested by an officer from the Indiana State Police and taken to the Starke County Jail.
A Starke Circuit Court jury trial has been continued in the case of Christopher Stonebraker, who has been charged with Rape as a Class B Felony and Domestic Battery, a Class D Felony.
Stonebraker was arrested on Nov. 28, 2011, and it is alleged that he raped his ex-wife and pushed her head into a wall, causing her tooth to chip. The probable cause affidavit stated that he also scratched her back in the presence of two children. Stonebraker was arrested by an officer from the Indiana State Police and taken to the Starke County Jail.
There were some issues with the discovery documents and the defense requested the continuance. The case will be tried in Starke Circuit court in October.
A Winamac man was arrested on Monday and charged with Rape and Domestic Battery.
It is alleged that Christopher Stonebraker raped his ex-wife and pushed her head into a wall causing her tooth to chip. The Probable Cause Affidavit also states that he reportedly scratched her back in the presence of two children. Stonebraker was arrested by an officer from the Indiana State Police and taken to the Starke County Jail on a Class B Felony Rape charge and a Class D Felony Domestic Battery charge.
