A man was charged March 4 with first-degree-felony rape and unlawful furnishing of alcohol to a minor, which is a class A misdemeanor.
Michael C. Cook, 27, had sexual intercourse with a 17-year-old girl without her consent, Summit County prosecutor Joy Natale claims.
“[The defendant] stated that prior to having sexual intercourse with her, the defendant gave her several shots of alcohol knowing that she was under [21] years old,” court papers state.
The acts occurred at a home in the Snyderville Basin, according to Natale.
Salt Lake City attorney Gregory B. Smith has filed a notice of appearance on Cook’s behalf. Smith also asked the authorities for more information about their investigation in a motion filed March 11.
The defense attorney requested any “evidence which tends to negate the guilt of the defendant or mitigate the guilt of the defendant or mitigate the degree of the offense that has been discovered by any member of the agencies involved in the investigation or prosecution of the [case.]”
Smith also requested a list of witnesses the prosecution intends to call for trial and their addresses, phone numbers and criminal records.
“We are approaching this case with the proper care and concern that any defendant would want and expect,” Smith said in a telephone interview Monday. “I remind everybody who reads newspapers, listens to the radio or watches TV that under our legal system people are presumed innocent. I would ask the general public to give my client that presumption of innocence and allow the legal system to work.”
Cook made an initial appearance in 3rd District Court in the Snyderville Basin March 8. A roll call hearing for Cook is scheduled April 19 at 8:30 a.m.
Smith has filed a not guilty plea on Cook’s behalf.
“I am confident that justice will be done,” Smith said.