Editor’s note: the editorial decision to publish is not an endorsement of either possible outcome of the case; rather, the decision aims to maintain public record and to ensure fairness by providing context to an earlier story published by The Daily Evergreen.
Charges against a WSU student who pleaded not guilty to rape in August were dropped in early January by Deputy Prosecutor Tessa Scholl.
Jayce Carnahan was charged with second-degree assault and two counts of third-degree rape in August 2024, according to an earlier Daily Evergreen article.
The alleged assault and rape occurred in August 2023 at the Sigma Nu fraternity house where Carnahan was once a member. Carnahan was linked to the incident through a rape kit.
He missed his arraignment on July 26, 2024, according to court records. He failed to show up to his next arraignment once again on Aug. 2, this time appearing over Zoom.
Carnahan pleaded not guilty to the charges on Aug. 9, which could have landed him a maximum of 20 years in prison and a fine of $50,000. His trial was originally scheduled for Oct. 12 before an order of continuance delayed the proceeding.
His trial was most recently scheduled for Feb. 18. This was canceled, along with the other scheduled pre-trial hearings, after the charges were dropped.
Scholl dropped the charges after receiving new information from Carnahan’s attorney, according to Pullman Radio. Although she said she still believes the victim, who has since left WSU, Scholl no longer believes a jury would find Carnahan guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
