Man accused of raping family member begins jury trial
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ST. ANTHONY — A Utah man accused of drugging and raping a family member appeared in court Tuesday for jury selection and his first day of trial.
Jacob Oberg, 26, faces one count of rape after the alleged incident took place during a camping trip in Island Park in June 2017. He is accused of “slipping something into a (relative’s) drink,” before raping her, according to court documents. The victim was a 23-year-old woman, and both the victim and suspect are from the Roy, Utah area.
RELATED: Man accused of drugging, raping relative in Island Park
A warrant was issued by Fremont County detectives in last August, and Oberg was arrested last September. Oberg pleaded not guilty to the charge in December. The trial was rescheduled multiple times, before ultimately moving forward this week.
With a pool of over 100 potential jurors, Fremont County Prosecuting Attorney Marcia Murdoch and defense attorney Challis McNalley chose 14 people to determine the outcome of Oberg’s case.
The jury selection took hours as both McNally and Murdoch questioned individuals in order to make selections about who would be impartial.
McNally and Murdoch worked to know about jurors’ personal feelings, as well as how the current political climate would affect the jurors’ ability to be impartial. One of the questions asked related to jurors familiarity with the allegations of misconduct against Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh.
McNally drilled jurors by asking if they feel immediate family members could have consensual sex. She also clarified that during the case they wouldn’t be trying to prove incest, but rape.
After jury selection, the trial began with opening statements and witnesses called by Murdoch.
District Judge Darren B. Simpson presided over the court Tuesday.
The jury trial is scheduled to continue through Friday from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. Wednesday. EastIdahoNews.com will continue coverage throughout the day.